Idea for park access: electronic fob
Here’s an interesting article about a new park in Springfield, MO:
Once dog owners and their dogs register, entry to the park will be through a $25 annual fee for each dog, McGrath said. Weekend visitors will be charged $10.
Entry for owners and their dogs will be controlled at gates with electronic locks, she said.
“They will be issued a fob,” she said. “They will wave it in front of the gate, and the gate will open.”
Dogs and their people will enter an enclosed area where dogs can be unleashed and taken to a 1 1/2-acre area for small and older dogs or a 4-acre area for more active dogs, McGrath said.
How many dogs live in Maynard?
All Maynard dog owners are required to obtain a license from the town for each dog in their household. The names and street addresses of dog license holders are public information, and MayDOG has obtained the list from the town clerk (we’re going to be sending out a mass mailing soon). There are a total of 530 dog-licensed househods in town, and a total of 637 licensed dogs. The true number of dogs and dog owners in town is likely higher, since not everyone bothers to get the license.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s US Pet Ownership Calculator, an average of 37.2% of US households own a dog. There are approximately 10,177 people in Maynard (according to the 2007 American Community Survey of the US Census). If Maynard dog ownership is similar to the rest of US, that means about 1,514 households would own at least one dog, and there would be 2,573 dogs in town.
| Maynard, MA Population, 2007 | 10,177 |
| Avg % of households with a dog in US, 2007 | 37.2% |
| Estimated # of dog-owning households in Maynard | 1,514 |
| Estimated # of dogs in Maynard | 2,573 |
