For the Dogs

Since the time of Nathaniel Morton, we have been preserving land in our town to save for recreation, and keep sprawl at bay.  Today, the efforts are stronger than ever, and each year, the volume of our protected land increases.

For an historic town with so many resources and features, it should be a top priority to protect and save what we can for our children and grandchildren.

But now that we have so many areas under protection , I have one question:

What about the dogs?

I remember as a kid taking our dogs to the beach at dusk, right around the time the sunbathers were packing it in for the day, and letting them run free.  Dozens of other
dog owners would be there, too, and the dogs had a grand old time chasing tennis balls, catching Frisbees, and romping through the surf.

We’d also go to the park, and do the same thing (minus the surf), and no one seemed to mind, so long as you were careful enough not to let your dog ruin someone else’s good time.

It used to seem that having a dog and enjoying the outdoors with him at the beach or the park was as natural as a picnic or a touch football game.

But times have changed. Dogs must be leashed at all times. People who don’t own dogs, or choose not to bring their dogs in public, will speak up and remind you of the rules, and may even call the authorities to have the rules enforced.

I understand not everyone likes dogs, and some dog owners can’t control their dogs off the leash.  So, to protect everyone’s interests, strong enforcement of the leash laws is in effect at the beach and the parks.

But dogs love to run, fetch, play Frisbee, and even swim.  So what to do?  I have a good size yard, but not everyone does.  Besides, dogs are social creatures.  By nature, they are pack
animals.  The greatest joy for a dog, man’s best friend, is to come off the leash and gather with a group of other dogs to play.

So, in our very large town, with many tracts of protected land, a town so large many want to call it a city, why can’t we have a dog park?  The town estimates there are over 10,000 dogs residing here.  All the owners vaccinate and license their dogs. I think that would constitute demand. Heck, the current dog population is higher than the human population was
in Plymouth forty years ago.

I believe the average dog owner would pay extra for the license if the revenue went towards maintaining a run-free dog park.  With a designated area for dogs, it would decrease the incidence rate of owners ignoring the rules at regular beaches and parks.

So Plymouth, what do you say, can we designate a park for the dogs?