Mark & Kellie Bassen, Santa (Rob Johnson) and their Daughter, Lynsey Bassen. Front Row: Bailey, a cross of Australian Shepard and English Shepard, and Takota (aka Taco), a cross of great Pyrenees and Fox Hound. 
 
Santa and the Bassen's are members of B-Town D.O.G. According to their website, http://www.b-towndog.com, The B-Town DOG Owners Group is a canine community group in Burien who's mission is to work towards providing a safe and friendly off-leash area for dogs and their owners to socialize and promote healthy activity.
 
In 2013, Beneful sponsored a 'Dream Dog Park' contest. Kellie Bassen and her dog Bailey were one of the finalist. Although they did not win the $500,000 prize, Beneful donated $20k towards her 'Dream Park'.  Since then, Burien Chevrolet and Burien Toyota jumped in and donated $10k; In addition, the group raised $15k from miscellaneous fundraising events and the city awarded them $15k in matching funds.
 
The new dog park will be built at Lakeview Park, located at SW 160th St and 6th Ave. on the property the district still owns. It was surplussed by the school board in 1997, and it is under a long-term lease with the City of Burien, which manages it as a park. This is similar to the arrangement they have with the City of Des Moines for management of the Zenith property.
 
According to Kellie, in addition to needing funds to build the park, they are also responsible for maintaining it as well. They will need to continue their fundraising efforts if Burien is going to have they type of dog park that we all want with a safe and friendly off-leash area.
 
The B-Town Dog's next fundraiser will be on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7pm.  Join them for an evening of fun playing 'Doggy Bingo' that will be hosted by the Pit Stop Bottle Shop located at 216 SW 153rd St.  Well behaved dogs welcomed.
 
http://www.b-towndog.com/home.html