In Sussex, New Brunswick, when the first snow of the season hit. Beautiful weather the past few days, then bam – rain, snow and high winds. Not as bad as New England got it, where we had just been, but still very cold. Not a day for the dog park.
But, having been told by my brother that there was one, I wanted to see it. So off Leo, Charlie and I went. We found it at the edge of the industrial section, at the end of a road with a hiking trail alongside it. Snow covered the sign so I couldn’t see what it said.
It was wet and windy on the top of that hill. Nobody else was there this Sunday afternoon. If I’d asked Charlie his opinion, he’d have said “and you’re surprised?” He and Leo ran around for about 10 minutes then Charlie stood at the entrance. Clearly, it was time to go.
It’s maybe an acre, about the size of a small ball diamond, enclosed with orange plastic snow fencing. The gate is a chute which turns at a right angle, then there’s a flap of fencing you can fasten to block it off. Quite ingenious and easy to do. A dog determined to get out could, by jumping the fence or pawing at the gate But it’s not like you’re putting your dog out to pasture at the dog park so the fencing would be fine.
Part of Sussex hiking trails
The hiking trail that passes the dog park hooks into a main trail that goes along the river right through town. Apparently it too is lovely. Today was not the day for us to find out. But I’m glad we went to the dog park. I’d like to see it on a nice day. The view is superb.
And it was clean! Snow or no snow, my Leo can sniff out dog poop. And he only found one lot (sniffed it and ran on). That’s impressive in any field, I think.
The Sussex “Bark Park” is at the end of McLeod Drive, off Leonard Drive, in Sussex. See my Tale of Two Dog Parks for more on this one and the dog park in St. Thomas.
