Attleboro dog park

[Jessica Kosowski]

We at The Sun Chronicle have noticed that this is a hot topic. Continue your discussion related to the proposed Attleboro dog park here.

[Iva]

If anyone could post who the contact is for the upcoming dog park that would be great. I would love to be apart of helping with this project and volunteering my time. Thanks for the help!

[ricknkim]

I'd say lets make sure we have safe playgrounds for our kids before creating some sort of dog park???? Saw an article last week about playgrounds with dangerous equipment and no ability to replace due to budget crunch . . . more important than a dog park?

[L]

Have you not been paying attention?

[Janice]

I too would like to be kept updated on the progress of the Dog Park. I think it is a great idea and would love to have the opportunity to help as well. I never saw the petition... so I'm sure there are plenty of other Attleboro dog owners who would continue to join in on this proposal. Keep us updated please.

[Roberta]

Hi Iva,

Sorry it has taken me this long to reply. I had totally forgotten about this site and looked at it today. You and another person are interested in being kept updated as to the status of the dog park. From my last conversation with the Mayor, it will happen, they just need to find the land that will not infringe on anyone's way of life. I believe that the ultimate goal for a site would be where there is industry and enough parking.

I know that it seems like this has been going on for quite sometime and you are right. But the first order of business was to get an ordinance the protects the city from any liabilities and rules that the users must follow. This took close to a year to complete and I can almost promise you that when the dog park finally does become a reality, that the ordinances may need some tweaking.

With all the research I did, it found out that for a GOOD dog park to take root, you have to take time and do small steps which could take any where from 1-3 years. What we are trying to do is to learn from Foxboro's mistakes and look at the success of Sharon and Medway.

Right now with the ARA in the limelight, I can almost promise you that the dog park is low on the totem pole. But it's not being forgotten and is just moving along at a snails pace right now. If you look at today versus 3 years ago when a dog park hadn't even been suggested, we've come a long way and at a good and steady pace.

If you want, you can add me to your address book: [e-mail]

When I lean something new (not gossip) I have tried to keep everyone updated. But because nothing new has happened, I don't have much to update on.

Tahnk you for your support. And remember: We WILL have this park.

[Dick Stuart]

At first, I was ambivalent about the idea.

But along the way, I've discovered more negatives than positives: considerably more.

Besides, what would be the next constituency that will want something for their special interest? I don't know. Cats?

[Maven]

Just what the city needs.......a place for more non dog savvy people to spread their joy! I walk my dogs daily and walk thru the mazes of feces, because people are irresponsible! People always think their dogs have great behaviors until the dreaded day their dog is challenged in an open field dog park.. Maybe make it a requirement that your dog needs to be CGC certified and the owner needs to prove they know the signs of various behaviors BEFORE the behavior takes flight.

Do you know how your dog is going to react when it is approached with a headstrong Alpha dog? Are you sure? Do you know what your dog will do when a bitch is in Heat? Are you sure? Do you know how your dog will react when a high energy bouncing dog just won't leave him or her alone? Are you sure? Do you know what your dog will do if challenged by a dog? Are you sure?

DOG parks are for people who don't truly understand the canine world!

[Michelle C]

I absolutely agree with Maven. I feel that introducing a dog park into the city is simply asking for trouble. There are so many ignorant dog owners. Are they going to provide training classes for the owners of these dogs? What do you do if your animal gets hurt at the dog park? Exchange papers like a car accident? Who polices the area to make sure the "rules" are abided by? The police? The dog officer? They have enough to deal with without throwing in a dog park where people who know next to nothing about animals are putting themselves and their animals into a precarious situation. Attleboro can't seem to manage to get people to pick up after their animals on the sidewalk and in the current parks. How do they propose to run a safe and clean park? Does anyone in support of this park realize that it has been estimated that a single gram (the size of a medium paperclip) of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. EPA even estimates that two or three days’ worth of droppings (and you know no one is picking up ALL the poop!) from a population of about 100 dogs (a typical dog park population on a weekend) would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it, to swimming and shell fishing. How about we stop laying off teachers or update some dilapitated historic buildings? Perhaps upgrade some town vehicles? Keep our fire fighters safe with new equipment? Free vaccinations for the elderly? There are so many positive ways to utilize all of the time and energy being spent on trying to create this dog park. Let's do something more than create a serious liability and public health risk.

[Dick Stuart]

Too bad that Maven and Michelle C didn't appear at the public hearing, whenever it was, to speak against the proposal
. . . . that is frankly being avalanched by those with conflicts of interest.

On the positive side, I think that the problems will get so numerous and nauseous that the smart citizens will go before
the Council to abandon this ill-advised "project".

[Dick Stuart]

A month and a half later: I was wrong in my prediction . . . but not wrong in
opposing this idea. And the way it was "avalanched", any opposition would
not have had a chance.

Good grief; did anyone watch the recent Council meeting in which some councilors were falling over themselves in self-adulation for creating this "dog park"? It was almost as nauseous as "fresh used dog food"!

Some councilors were acting like they had found a cure for cancer, or something worthy: really pathetic.


Dick Stuart

[steves]

Well location has been found and committees formed
anyone who wants to get involved respond to [e-mail]
Should be lots of fun for all !!

[Michelle C]

I find nothing "fun" about a gross waste of public funds on something so dangerous and frankly, frivolous. As I have stated before, this dog park will cost the tax payers so much more money than projected...lawyers fees for the first child that gets bit and so many other dangerous scenarios that this park poses. Anyone who cares for their dogs at all will NOT take their dogs to a dog park...and to please all those DOg Whisperer fans out there that think they are Cesar Milan...he opposes dog parks too, as they promote an unnatural forced pack with aggression problems!!!