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their safety. A double-gate system was        use diatomaceous earth.”                       groups around 9 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. It
installed to prevent dogs from getting                                                       is not uncommon during those times to
out into the community. The CA provided       Robin is pleased with the dog park and         see 30 or more residents sitting under the
chairs and benches for the residents,         happy to see so many dogs enjoying it.         trees, chatting, while their dogs explore
and very recently, a BBQ picnic area          /LNH+DKQ5RELQ·VIRFXVLVRQLWVEHQHÀW     and play. Some residents visit the dog park
was built for the enjoyment of residents      to the dogs. “This is the only place in Sun    sporadically, while others visit every day
in that area. David Hahn (Director of         City where the dogs can get exercise and       —sometimes several times a day. Resident
Facilities Maintenance), who supervises       socialize off leash. Some have fenced yards,   Buzzy Hart (N6) introduced himself and
maintenance of the dog park, believes the     but the yards are small and don’t provide      his two beloved terriers, Buddy and Bubba.
decision to build the dog park has been       enough room for larger dogs.” She also         “We’re the three Honey Bs. We visit the dog
a good one. “It needs to be there. A lot of   believes that being off leash is the only way  park three times a day.” Hart said they
people love it. The park was built for the    a dog’s true temperament can be expressed.     don’t have a schedule, “They woof-woof me,
dogs and they love it. It’s really all about  “Dogs are different off leash. Dogs can be     and I know it’s time. I’m their chauffeur.”
the dogs.” He and his team monitor the        dominant or timid on leash and be totally
park and are always looking for ways to       different off leash. They establish their own  Renee Swan (N38) has been bringing her
improve it. “It’s tricky to maintain the      pecking order.” She does believe residents     two dogs, Pomeranian Dolly and Lhasa
grass with the shade out there and the dog    should objectively determine whether           Apso Dudley, to the dog park almost every
DFWLYLW\:HORRNHGDWLQVWDOOLQJDUWLÀFLDO  their dog is a danger to other dogs before     GD\IRUWKHSDVWÀYH\HDUV'XGOH\ZDV
grass, but the City of Georgetown feels       considering a dog park. The dog park is not    blinded by diabetes but is able to navigate
it impedes drainage and won’t allow it.”      the place for an aggressive dog. She advised   the dog park safely. Despite his disability,
Aesthetics are one factor, but the safety     that residents should supervise their dog at   Dudley’s quality of life hasn’t suffered.
of the dogs is paramount to Hahn. “Our        the park because tense situations can arise    Renee knows all of the dogs by name, and
maintenance crews do not use any harmful      quickly and an alert owner can intervene       many residents have become friends. They
chemicals or ant bait in that area. We only   before there’s a problem.                      have helped one another through various

                                              The dog park tends to draw the largest                        Continued on the next page

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