New Mayor Elected for Enfield Dog Park

ENFIELD, CT - A formerly abused and abandoned red Australian shepherd has been elected the new mayor of the Enfield Dog Park.

Ridley, a 3-year-old red Aussie, was elected to a one-year term during balloting Saturday at the ninth annual Puppy Pride Fun Day, a fundraiser for the dog park.

According to his campaign notes, "Ridley had a rough start in life, coming from an abuse and abandonment case, where he feared everything."

His owner, Pam LaBombard, demonstrated "tons of patience and love" for Ridley, and he began to show trust, then overcame most of his fears with numerous trips to the dog park on Ecology Road.

Ridley succeeds Remy, who was elected the inaugural dog park mayor last year.

A deputy mayor was also elected Saturday: Marty, a Doberman/Weimaraner who had been rescued from a high-kill shelter.

Marty's clever campaign slogan said, "I can bark like a Congressman, fetch like an aide, beg like a press secretary and play dead like a receptionist when the phone rings. Let's just say I won't be the first politician to drink from the toilet, that's for sure."

Proceeds from Puppy Pride go towards maintaining the services available at the dog park, which is operated entirely by volunteers.