West Hartford Holds a 'Dog Party' - We-Ha

West Hartford Holds a ‘Dog Party’

Published On: December 2, 2016Categories: Lifestyle, Pets, Reader Contributed

Audio By Carbonatix

West Hartford Pop-Up Dog Park at Eisenhower Park. Nov. 19, 2016. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Dog Park Coalition

The most recent Pop-Up Dog Park, at Eisenhower Park, attracted more than 50 dogs.

West Hartford Pop-Up Dog Park at Eisenhower Park. Nov. 19, 2016. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Dog Park Coalition

Submitted by David Coleman, West Hartford Dog Park Coalition

If you wanted to see dozens of dogs happily romping around and their owners socializing, Eisenhower Park was the place to be on Nov. 19. On the bright and sunny Saturday before Thanksgiving, the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition held a pop-up dog park event where dogs freely roamed unleashed within the fenced- in baseball diamond.

This was the third in a series of monthly pop-up dog parks which are co-sponsored by the Coalition and the town.

The next pop-up dog park will be on December 18, at the Fernridge Park baseball field (567 Fern St., West Hartford) between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

“It was a beautiful day and everyone – two-legged and four-legged – really seemed to have a wonderful time,” said Mayor Shari Cantor, who attended. “I was impressed with the large turnout and how well all the dogs behaved. I think these pop-up dog park events are laying the groundwork for us to eventually have a permanent dog park in town.”

More than 50 dogs and well over 100 people attended, some from as far as Torrington. The event even attracted some folks who aren’t dog owners but who came to play with the dogs. A few families walked over from the playground and sat on the bleachers to watch what one little girl described as a “dog party.”

“Wilson loved it,” said Farmington resident Linda Schramm, referring to her 5-year-old English Springer Spaniel. “He needs a safe area where he can run freely, so the fenced-in ball field was perfect.” While pop-up dog parks are fine, she added, “I’m hoping we can have a permanent dog park soon because it would be a great addition to the community.”

For more information about the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition, see https://www.facebook.com/groups/westhartforddogpark/.

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