Announcing the First Annual Dog-Friendly Business Award
Posted on June 25, 2009 · Filed under: Dog-friendly businesses, News
MayDOG is now accepting nominations for the first annual Dog-Friendly Business Award! This award will go to the business in the Maynard area that is doing the most to be dog-friendly. Nominations will be accepted through July 31, 2009.
The winner will be announced on August 1, 2009 at noon at the Maynard Farmers’ Market.
What are dog-friendly business practices?
- Welcoming customers’ dogs onto the business’s premises
- Allowing employees to bring their dogs to work
- Placing a designated water bowl near the entrance to the business
- Providing a “doggie hitch” outside the business
- Offering unusual or special products/services specifically for dogs
- Supporting non-profit dog-related organizations in our community
Submit your nomination here or by email. Include a short description of why you think your nominee is the most dog friendly in the area.
What Happened in North Andover?
Posted on June 15, 2009 · Filed under: Elsewhere
While searching for information on a dog park in North Reading, I happened to stumble across this article from 2007 on a dog park effort in North Andover. Some interesting points about the N. Andover effort:
- They collected 100 signatures in favor of a dog park, then asked the Board of Selectmen for permission to work with the town planner to finalize a location and a proposal (we gathered more than 600 signatures in a much smaller town)
- They wanted to use an acre of town land and raise $12,000 in private donations to fence the parcel (exactly the same as our proposal)
- They proposed that both residents and non-residents would be allowed to use the dog park. The town could charge fees to the people who use it, and charge more to non-residents (same as our proposal)
- They proposed that the Department of Public Works could mow the grass and take out the trash, and a volunteer dog park committee could handle any other maintenance (same as our proposal)
- Their board of selectmen said their proposal sounded “awesome” and gave their approval
So now for the questions:
- What is the difference between N. Andover’s board of selectmen and Maynard’s board in terms of receptiveness to a proposal such as this one?
- Why hasn’t N. Andover’s dog park become a reality? Searching Google for more information brings up nothing. If anyone knows more, please let us know!
