Vernon Dog Park to celebrate anniversary

VERNON — The Vernon Dog Park will celebrate its fifth anniversary of operation on May 5.
“Yet some residents don’t even know the park is here,” laughed Virginia Whitehead, co-vice president of D.O.G.S. of Vernon.
D.O.G.S. of Vernon, meaning dog owners gathering society, is a non-profit organization that runs and supervises the operation of the five-year-old park located on Route 517 in Vernon.
As dogs frolicked in the Saturday sunshine, President of D.O.G.S. Barbara Green and Whitehead were serious about getting the word out of the dog park’s existence.
“We want everyone to know our community involvement, but we also want everyone to know that the park is a great place to exercise and socialize your dog, creating happy canine family members. It’s also a great place for people to meet new friends and even get a heads up on businesses in town that can offer us services,” Whitehead stressed.
Plans for the anniversary celebration are currently in the making however, Green and Whitehead cited many upcoming events at the park. The yearly spring clean-up will spruce up the park’s aesthetic image. A dog Easter egg hunt and photo with the Easter bunny will take place on the Saturday before Easter March 31. A D.O.G.S. of Vernon Beefsteak dinner fundraiser will be held at the Highland Lakes Fire House on April 28. A possible garage sale fundraiser may happen in May or June and the annual dog wash/microchipping/ nail clipping will continue in July.
The D.O.G.S. organization’s future plans for the park include having their own well for drinking water and the addition of an informational kiosk at the dog run’s entrance. The kiosk has already been donated by Lyne Ciccarelli and the installation will be in the springtime.
For more information on the Vernon Dog Park or D.O.G.S. of Vernon, visit dogsofvernon.org.