Editorial: Ray Jones Dog Park — fine idea

Posted 4/18/19

Dartmouth has a dog park, as do Portsmouth, Fall River and lots of towns all around.

Tiverton and Westport don’t have dog parks yet but could and should. Unlike bike paths, which these towns …

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Editorial: Ray Jones Dog Park — fine idea

Posted

Dartmouth has a dog park, as do Portsmouth, Fall River and lots of towns all around.

Tiverton and Westport don’t have dog parks yet but could and should. Unlike bike paths, which these towns also lack, towns don’t need to wait for slow motion state action to make dog parks happen.

There’s been talk of a Tiverton dog park for years and this could finally be the moment.

Inspiration comes from the memory of Ray Jones, the town’s animal control officer for 30 years. Mr. Jones died April 5 at age 74.

Seeking some way to salute Mr. Jones, a friend to dogs and all manner of Tiverton animals — pet, farm and wild — several people thought of a dog park, an idea that has never quite managed to gain traction.

They posted their thought to social media and it took off. Hundreds liked the idea, some suggested locations, and many went further with offers of help — labor, fund raising, construction expertise, equipment …

Those who don’t own dogs sometimes wonder about the need for a dog park, especially in these towns that have open space in abundance.

There may be lots of land here where people can stretch their legs, but Tiverton, Westport and Little Compton have next to no place where a dog can kick up its heals off leash and run as a dog should.

Beaches ban dogs outright during the warm weather months and most insist on leashes other times. Hiking paths through protected lands sometimes welcome dogs but, again, only on leashes. And forget about fenced ballfields — the volunteers who tend to them don’t appreciate scuffed base paths or mid-field divots.

The beauty of dog parks is that dogs can run at their own speed, not plod along at people pace. They can chase things, romp with other dogs without getting yanked back, and wear themselves out.

"My father would be delighted and honored, and the family would be happy knowing there's a place in town where people can let their dogs run free and socialize with other canine town residents," said Ray’s son, Tiverton Police Chief Pat Jones.

Ray Jones Memorial Dog Park — this is an idea Tiverton can run with.

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Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.