Animal 411

Two People, Black Lab Trapped in Waveny Dog Park; Humans Fined

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New Canaan police ticketed two people who couldn’t get back out of the dog park at Waveny after someone had let them in. Since last summer, Spencer’s Run users have been required to punch in a key code in order to enter the popular dog run—a measure that requires registration and was designed to cut down on irresponsible pet owners. At about 3:58 p.m. on May 10 (a Saturday), police found a man and woman in Spencer’s Run who’d been let into the dog park with their black Labrador retriever by a key code-possessing user. A key code is required to get out of the park, too, so these two couldn’t escape, according to Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt. ***

Animal Control at 1:34 p.m. on the same day responded to a report of an injured baby goose on a Fawn Lane property.

Animal 411

Spencer’s Run Saplings Protected from Leg-Lifting Dogs

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Town officials have taken steps to protect a pair of young—and in being young, vulnerable—maple saplings in Spencer’s Run from a most insidious threat: dog urine. Canines lifting their legs against the young trees in the Waveny dog park has become enough of a concern that the town is fencing the trees in (and man’s best friend, out), Recreation Director Steve Benko said. “I talked to a fence guy about getting the split-rail fence in there around the trees to keep the dogs far enough away not to spray it,” Benko said. “We’re looking at an 8-by-8 [perimeter], because if it’s four feet away the dog still lifts its leg and gets to it.”

It’s one of several small capital improvements at the popular dog park, which last summer switched to a key code-only access system. Revenue from selling permits for dog park access goes into the general fund.

Government

Town: PIN System Improves Behavior at Dog Park

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By Michael Dinan

More than 650 dog owners have registered for access to the dog run at Waveny Park since a new system was installed at the popular spot last summer, officials say. Since July, those who want to use the 1.5-acre dog area, Spencer’s Run, have been required to purchase a PIN number ($25 per year for residents and $40 for nonresidents for the first dog, $15 for each additional dog). About 60 percent of those who have registered for Spencer’s Run are nonresidents, Recreation Director Steve Benko told NewCanaanite.com. Registration forms are available here. Named for Spencer Plavoukos, a New Canaan resident and dog-lover who was killed together with his yellow Labrador “Bo” in 2005, Spencer’s Run is one of lower Fairfield County’s most heavily used dog parks.