The group focuses on providing "Teachable Moments" at the park, educating visitors on the humane treatment and protection of wildlife. Friends of Mingus Park (FOMP) was started in 2013 following the witnessed abuse of wildlife at Mingus Park, Coos Bay, OR. A small group of women began using "Teachable Moments" to educate park visitors about the humane treatment of park wildlife. This small group evolved into a larger group of concerned park visitors who visited the park regularly. "Joey The Goose" was observed to be an injured white Embden Goose, who allowed kids and people of all ages to come up and pet her. She was friendly and lovable, and it was noted that she fell when walking, enabling her to be a victim for abuse. Kids were seen taunting her with sticks and throwing rocks at her. Veterinary offered to do an initial free exam to evaluate the cause of her lame foot, and found that she not only had Osteomyelitis of the right leg, but a large chest wound which was causing her to be immobile. A month-long course of antibiotics was started and she rehab-ed well at the home of one of the founding members of FOMP. Today after 4 months she is walking normally and the chest wound is healed. She even gained a pound. A petition was signed by 75 people who saw the picture of Joey the Goose --and agreed that the following items needed to be adopted as part of the 2013 Master Plan for Mingus Park: 1) Wildlife food dispensers with signs around the park noting that animal abuse would not be tolerated and would be prosecuted, 2) Temporary mesh grill placed over the drainage grill at the south end of the lake each Spring to prevent baby ducklings from being swept down the drain, 3) Make the lake a NO FISHING lake due to the close proximity of wildlife at the lake. The petition along with a letter was sent to the Parks Commission of Coos Bay and to Randy Dixon at the City of Coos Bay. Friends of MIngus Park held its first formal meeting at the park on Sept. 14, 2013 and a plan for outreach and goals was established. Presently, the group is still advocating for the birds at the park, but is basically defunct. We are pleased that all of the large geese at the park were re-homed to a wonderful owner, and that was our main mission. But we gladly will send a select group of rescuers to the park if there is a report of an injured waterfowl. Please contact Kristi Kelty at 408-499-5156 or at [email protected] for further information or to become involved with this group. (Oil painting of Joey The Goose by Elaine Roemen of Port Orford, OR)
