GRANITE FALLS — Robert Littlejohn has always owned dogs. Now he wants to help build a fence at Eagle Park to make it safer for dogs to roam off-leash.
The southern two-thirds of the city park located on East Galena Street will be fenced when he can raise enough money for the project.
“I knew the city didn’t have the money that they need to be able to fence that,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn, 63, hopes other dog owners will help him raise the $2,000 needed to fence the area, which will include areas where dogs can be taken off-leash before they enter the dog park and leashed before they leave.
Although the entire park is designated as an off-leash area, Littlejohn said he thinks having a fenced area will make the space safer for dogs.
“(Dog parks) are probably the best thing going on for dogs,” he said. “To be able to socialize with other people and other dogs makes an incredible difference in their behavior.”
Littlejohn owns two cattle dogs who enjoy games of fetch at Marysville’s Strawberry Fields for Rover, Lowell Park in Everett and Eagle Park. A fenced area at Eagle Park would mean he could safely bring both his dogs to play at the same time, he said.
The Granite Falls City Council on Sept. 15 gave Littlejohn permission to put a fence up at Eagle Park. Since then he has started an account at KeyBank, “GF Cash for Canines” and put donation cans in several local businesses to collect money for the fence. He’ll run a booth at Railroad Days on Saturday to answer questions and take donations.
Littlejohn said he expects the 4-foot tall welded wire fence to go up in one weekend once enough money is raised. Then he’d like to try to fund a water source for owners and their dogs at the park.
He said the feedback he has received from others about sprucing up the dog park has been positive.
“I’m not bashful,” Littlejohn said. “Every time I see someone walking their dogs I ask them about it and I’ve had a lot of promises of labor and donations.”
Park donations
Donations to help construct a fence at Eagle Park, 701 E. Galena, can be made to the GF Cash for Canines account at any KeyBank.
For more information, e-mail gfcashforcanines@gmail.com or visit the Granite Falls Cash for Canines Facebook page.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491
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