NYC Dog Runs is the result of a community reporting project by me, Jeff Poirier, a graduate student in the NYU Journalism program. I recently moved to New York for school, along with my family and my boxer, Jazzy. As a frequent visitor to dog runs in Brooklyn, I learned first-hand the challenges facing the city’s canine community.

The project began by listening. I heard about the difficulties of dog ownership in New York, the lack of safe spaces for pets to play and the struggle to make headway with the City. The more I listened, the more I realized: everyone is fighting the same battles, most with limited resources. What would happen if the community banded together?

That’s where NYC Dog Runs comes in. Our goal is to connect local dog runs and their volunteers throughout the city. We will provide a channel to share stories, spread knowledge and bring together like-minded community members. By doing so, we hope to build a support network for dog owners and their four-legged friends.

Want to learn more about the project or just say hello? Send Jazzy and I an email here. We’d love to hear from you!