About Us

Gold Canyon D.O.G. -Dog Owners Group-
Mission Statement:
"To Promote Responsible Dog Ownership"

The brainchild of Marta Saint-James and her dog Kramer , Gold Canyon D.O.G. - Dog Owners Group, and the future off-leash dog park, will promote responsible dog ownership through educational activities and events for owners and their dogs so they can interact. The most important task for D.O.G. was finding a suitable site for the park.

Since 2004 we have been working with Pinal County on our quest to obtain a parcel behind the Firehouse Grill. This 11-acre parcel was donated by a local developer. When we held our last D.O.G. meeting on November 21st, 2009, we decided to abandon that project because of close proximity of the parcel to homes in the area. We instead decided to concentrate our efforts on the partnership with the City of Apache Junction on the Silly Mountain Park Project.
Silly Mountain is located on US 60 -the Superstition Freeway- and Mountain View Road.

A few years ago the City of Apache Junction acquired 200 acres in Silly Mountain from the Bureau of Land Management (B.L.M.).  One of the requirements from B.L.M. was that the City had to develop a Master Plan and the land had to be for public use.  In 2007 the Master plan was designed with input from residents of the City, and from residents of surrounding communities and organizations.  Some of these groups are the Superstition Area Land Trust (S.A.L.T.); the Superstition Horseman's Association; the MOM’s Club of Gold Canyon, and Gold Canyon D.O.G.-Dog Owners Group.  The Master Plan was designed by J2 Design Engineering and Environmental (J2 was responsible for the design of Cosmo Dog Park in the Town of Gilbert, voted the “Best Dog Park in the Nation”).  The Master Plan, already approved by the City of Apache Junction will include Multi-use Trails: Hiking, Equestrian, Bicycling – NO motorized vehicles-; a Desert Botanical Demonstration Garden; Children’s Play Area; an Environmental Education Interpretative Center; Picnic Area and of course: a 4.5 acre off-leash dog park.  Arizona dark-skies law will apply to this project.
Note: The Superstition Area Land Trust (S.A.L.T.) is currently working along with the City of Apache Junction on the construction of an interpretative trail at Silly Mountain Park that will be handicapped accessible.  The funds are being provided by S.A.L.T. through a grant from the Nina Mason Pullium Charitable Trust.
For more information on S.A.L.T. please visit their website http://www.azsalt.org/

As of January 3, 2010 we have $7,697.49 Dollars in the Gold Canyon D.O.G. Savings bank account. There are 3 signatories in the account: Francine Schut, Vice President; Walter Girton, Treasurer and myself -our financial records are open to anyone who wishes to see them.
NOTE: Attorney Tresa Georgini of Georgini Law Offices, LLC in Casa Grande donates her time as an agent of Gold Canyon DOG, a nonprofit organization.

Kramer was our 12 year old Golden Retriever. He was a very special dog in Gold Canyon, loved by everyone in this beautiful community. Numerous articles in the Gold Canyon Ledger, local newspapers, in The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune. He was also quite famous in events such as Special Olympics as a therapy dog.
My husband Curt Fonger owns Visions of the Southwest Photography, LLC. www.VisionsoftheSW.com He is the official "Pawtographer" for Gold Canyon D.O.G. Curt created a Special Edition Kramer’s Cards. All the proceeds went to the off-leash park project. In 12 months we raised over $1,200 from these cards.

Kramer has been instrumental in this project. With his sweet face, his famous doggie lunchbox and his love for humans, he has raised hundreds of dollars for the park.

Kramer crossed the Rainbow Bridge on January 15, 2005 with Mom and Dad on his side.

Kramer with Mom Marta Saint-James

Logo designed and donated by Keith Knudsen, Knudsen Studios, Illinois