I can be pretty cynical from time to time, but I really am quite lucky in the grand scheme of things.
I have a great family who loves to laugh. I have a house full of felines who keep me entertained.
And one of the biggest reasons I’m lucky is that my office overlooks the dog park just behind our shelter at 5051 Letterkenny Road West in Chambersburg.
I’m telling you, if you ever have one of those days where life is getting you down and you’re stressed, even if you don’t have a pup, stop out at our dog park and I can just about promise you, your spirits will be lifted.
First of all, watching the dogs come into the park, I swear a lot of them know where they are. Their heads are hanging out the windows of the vehicles and some of them are already barking a hello.
We have two sets of gates at the entrance to each of the dog parks (one for small dogs and one for big dogs). You should see some of these canines dance around, waiting for that final gate to open. You can almost hear them saying, “Come on, Dad, hurry up!”
And when they’re finally free and racing through the grounds, it’s truly a sight to behold. The tails are up and the little legs are flying and it’s the epitome of sheer joy.
I like to take a peek out my window every now and again just to get to witness that. It never fails to bring a smile to my face.
Our dog park is a combined effort between CVAS, Greene Township and the Borough of Chambersburg. Huge thanks go to Perry Fence Company for getting the dog park up and running. Anyone is allowed to use the park and it’s open from dawn to dusk every day.
We do have a few rules so that everyone can have a great time at the park. We ask that if your pup is aggressive in any way – towards people or other dogs, please don’t bring him out to the park.
We ask that folks clean up after their dog. Keeping the park free from waste is everyone’s responsibility and we have trash cans for that very purpose.
In order to maintain control, we ask that people bring a maximum of two dogs per person and that you keep your pup on a leash to and from the park. Remember that the shelter is in operation and we have volunteers who walk our shelter dogs on the grounds. Your dog may be the friendliest of creatures, but if our shelter dog doesn’t enjoy the company of other canines, we want to make sure everyone is safe, so please don’t allow your unleashed dog to wander up to a shelter dog being walked.
Due to safety concerns, we ask that no children under 12 be allowed in the park.
I know kids love dogs and they are welcome to watch from outside the fence, but I’ll tell you, when those pups get to running around, they can be wild – and they often don’t stop for a person. I’ve very nearly been bowled over on more than one occasion when dogs were flying around me at the dog park. Little children are even closer to the ground and it’s a recipe for disaster, so make sure your human kids are over 12 if they’re inside the park.
We’re very proud of our dog park and a lot of people use it to let their four-legged friends run off some of that canine energy and meet other furry friends. It’s a great place for socialization – both canine and human – and we have a ton of benches (many of which were donated from various Boy Scout troops in the area) for you to relax and have fun.
If you’re looking for a way to shake off the blahs from this gloomy weather, make a trip to our dog park and I can just about guarantee you will leave with a smile on your face!
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Jennifer Vanderau is the Public Relations Coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
