Good fit for man’s best friend

Friday, February 3, 2012

Want a dog park? Of course you do, even if you don’t own a dog.

Of course, if you do own a dog, you must love the idea of a dog park because it gives your pooch – possibly your best friend – a place to race about and have a good doggy time with other dogs.

And it keeps your dog active without the need to keep him/her on a leash which makes keeping him/her active a little more difficult for you: When Poochinello (for such, surely, is his name) wants to run and is on a leash, guess who has to run along?

Anyway, the land donated six years ago by Harold and Barbara Watson for the town’s dog park needs people to get involved if it is, indeed, to benefit your dog Phaedra (for such, surely, is her name). Right now, the town Parks and Recreation Committee is seeking volunteers to help in the planning and fundraising for the dog park and a pavilion that would serve as an outdoor classroom.

What is known as Watson Park is “such a perfect place” for a dog park, said Town Councilor Jackie Flood, the Council’s representative to parks and rec.

And will reach an additional level of perfection (canine Nirvana, perhaps?) with the involvement of you and, of course, many others.

So? What do you say? Or bark, if you’re discussing this with your dog What’s Its Name? Ready to get involved? Ready to help out?

Here’s how:

Interested parties should contact the town parks and recreation department at 6 Baboosic Lake Road or by e-mailing skalish@merrimacknh.gov.

Even if you don’t own a dog, you should get involved. The more dogs with a place to play, the fewer dogs wandering the streets and jumping up to give you a big lick that you might not want (although that’s certainly hard to imagine.)

While you contemplate your level of involvement, ask yourself this: Why has no one ever proposed a cat park?