Should Dogs Be Allowed At Town Farm?

Tiverton officials disagreed on whether to prohibit dogs at Town Farm at its meeting on Monday night. 

Councilor James Arruda suggested changing the regulations at Town Farm to allow pets on walking trails only if they are leashed at all times, attended by their owners and cleaned up after. A dog station would also be installed for convenience. 

"The problem I have with Town Farm is if you had a bad dog on a bad that gets loose, with the sheer number of people there on a given day and the number of kids, I don't know how well you can control a situation like this," said Councilor Jay Lambert.

The Recreation Commission voted against dogs on the property because a portion of people didn't abide by the rules of controlling and cleaning up after their pets, according to Robert Martin, Tiverton maintenance director.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pet waste is a “non-point source of pollution.” This puts solid pet waste in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals. Failure to properly dispose of pet waste or allow it to decompose outside can be toxic to waterways.

"We are going to vary the [animal control officer's] hours and actually get him in on a council of weekend hours as well," said Chief Thomas Blakey.

A dog park in Tiverton could give pet owners a neutral space for animal owners to stretch the legs of their four-legged friends, Councilor Brett Pelletier suggested.

Tell Us: Do you think dogs should be allowed at Town Farm?