I didn’t point out the dangers to these responsible parents enjoying frigid family fun this time, but I did leave the video camera rolling to capture the inevitable. As a dog owner and parent of a young sledder I highly advise against sledding inside any dog run. Bringing children into a dog park adds responsibility for their behavior and a risk to their safety. Wrapping them up in fuzzy, furry winter wear and sending them screaming down a hill makes them a target for animal instincts. The fact they ‘got away with it’ this day was against the odds.

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Some of these pictures are Amazing. I hope you enjoy them.

You know what’s really great about the new asphalt trails through Waveny Park in New Canaan? Instead of troubling with the sprinkling of wood chips we finally have a place to put our old roads, in the forest. Here’s a gallery celebrating pavement.

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FOOD ITEMS:  Do not bring human or dog food / treats into the dog park.  Many dogs are on diets to keep their weight under control. Some dogs have food allergies and that treat might make a dog ill.  A normally well-behaved dog can jump at or lunge for food, especially tasty human food, when hungry.

For the past three days people inside Spencer’s Run with dog food in their pockets have caused problems with my dog who is on a diet and perpetually hungry.

Saturday my dog would not leave the side of a person with treats in their pocket. Sitting patiently, waiting, performing tricks and begging; my dog won’t play with other dogs when there is a possibility of being fed.

Yesterday, while my dog sat waiting at the foot of someone holding dog snacks, the owner gave the treat to her dog and there was an immediate threatening outburst between dogs. It was scary and unexpected, but it was certainly understandable.

Look closely at this picture! There are several dogs gathered around a small child holding dog treats. The mother is busy on the phone and the group is far away from the dog owners if there were a problem. This is ‘potentially’ dangerous behavior.

I thought about walking down there to limit my child-finger-liability or the possibility of another dog fight but I was tired from work so I just yelled and my dog begrudgingly returned. I don’t think it’s fair to my pet to be yelled at for being a dog.

What’s the real problem? People can’t control their pets without paying them in food?

(Maybe the folks who bought the grass that’s dying after two-weeks will install little lockers for the people with food.)
Here are a couple of pics showing the state of the grass investment, looks like it’s getting walked all over. What’s really weird is the only grass that’s brown and dying is the new grass they planted. lmao.

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Shortly after returning from the park I received an email from spencersrun.org:

Spencer’s Run is closed. We hope to re-open soon,
weather permitting. Please check the website for
updates.
Thank you.

Arriving at the dog park today I saw more than a dozen dogs outside the park once again. After chatting with some of the folks about the fragile grass investment, I joined a half dozen canines gathered 50 yards into the center of a playing field. All the dogs were on leashes, 6ft or less, and all of the dogs were within 20ft of their owners. One lady held her pet’s leash, fearing her dog wouldn’t return on command. The rest were just there romping and being friendly.
It’s odd how six people who are separated by career, social relations, income level, political motivation, race, gender, age, etc… sharing only pet ownership in common can all have the same perspective about the experience in Waveny Park this afternoon.
It’s silly that the powers-that-be are so protective of their little diorama, Spencer’s Run.
It’s silly for us to be stopped by the Police for behaving responsibly with respect for others.
And all of us joked about who “all the calls coming in” could have been from, “over there”. I wonder what kind of a threat we were interpreted as?
Truth be told officer Kleinschmidt should have pointed at the cell antenna on the water towers when she pointed in the direction the calls originated. She was close.

(Murphy’s Law x 2: You will only forget your camera when there is something good to take a picture of.)

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social commentary: As a generalization dog owners seem to be social, energetic, out-going folks. A further generalization might be that New Canaan residents, dog owners included, act in a responsible manner, as is the case with many educated people. I really am curious what the imposed threat is? Is there a fear that a golden retriever will come bounding across the field and attack an elderly person? What is the reality of that happening? I agree it’s not worth questioning the risk of such an event and all measures to protect the public from such a scenario should be considered. But seriously is there a golden retriever in New Canaan that looks forward to leaving his warm New Canaan home, leaving little Katie and Johnny with mom so Dad can take him to the park where he’ll run away as fast as he can, relieving himself the whole way, only to attack a human and be put to death the next day? When I lived in a 65% Asian neighborhood I experienced the same blind fear.