By ARIEL ZANGLA
Freeman staff
azangla@freemanonline.com; twitter.com/ArielAtFreeman

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — A movement is afoot to provide a place for dogs to play safely without leashes in Saugerties.

Rae Stang, the owner of Lucky Chocolates, said there has been talk in town of creating a dog park and that she brought the issue to the Town Board last week. She said she was told to create a committee to determine what is needed to create such a park and then bring a proposal to town officials for consideration.

“I think a dog park would be really nice to have,” Stang said. She said it would give residents a place to take their dogs and allow the canines to socialize and play without their leashes. It also would promote responsible dog ownership, Stang said.

Stang, who owns a Jack Russell terrier named Effie, said a dog park would need a fence, a double gate, water and shade, among other things. She said the park also might need to be divided into two sections, one for larger dogs and another for smaller ones.

Town Supervisor Kelly Myers said she asked that people interested in creating a dog park get together and look at what other communities have done. In the meantime, Myers said, she will look into whether there is property in the town where such a park could exist.

Stang said there is a contest underway in which communities vie to win $100,000 to create a dog park. Saugerties is registered for that contest, called “Bark for Your Park,” and residents are urged to vote, she said.

The contest is online at www.petsafe.net/barkforyourpark and also on Facebook at the Pet Safe company page.

“It would be fantastic to win the contest, but it would take a huge effort,” Stang said.



Stang said anyone who wants to help her with the Saugerties dog park effort should email her at raestreehouse@yahoo.com. There is also a Facebook page called “Dog Friendly Saugerties” where residents interested in the park can connect.

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