Evans parks go to the dogs

Aaahh ... this is the dog's life. The sun on my back, a cushion below me and a tight body curl that guarantees the warmest of slumbers. A couple of cookies a couple of times day.

But then, she looks down at me and smiles. She only smiles like that when it's time for some fun. My fun.

Hey! She's got the leash! I poke my head up and rush to her side.

But we live in Greeley. There will be no walks through the grassy parks here. One quick trip off the sidewalk onto the greenery could land her a $90 ticket -- that's a nice bunch of chew toys I could lose out on. And those police? They're watching, anxious to write that $90 ticket.

I remember that day the first ticket came. We had committed the ultimate crime of walking on the sidelines of a kids' soccer match. He approached, "You know, there are no dogs allowed in Greeley parks. You need to take him to Rover Run."

So we tried it, a barren wasteland with all sorts of dogs running around. No lush green grass, no distant laughter of children, no geese.

That seemed like ages ago.

Ah, well. There's always the cushion at home. That's the life for me, looking outside the windows of these four walls as the world lives on without me.

But she still has that leash! Maybe something has changed? Maybe they'll let me back to walk along the grass. Maybe dogs have been granted some clemency in Greeley.

It's too hard to hold in my excitement. Owoooo! Owoooo! Wait! Stop! Hold the Frisbee!

The car? More Rover Run, possibly a trip to the vet? I slump a little and hang my head. If I must.

But she smiles the fun smile again.

Minutes later, I poke out the car window. I've finally made it to that doggie dome in the sky.

I hop out and look around: Lush green trees and bushes. There are children! People running along side me. No tickets. No packs of dogs ruling the roost. I rush along at the end of my leash, practically dragging her.

She meets up with a friend as we walk. "Can you believe this?" she asks.

"I know," the friend said. "The city of Evans decided to listen to its residents and allow them to walk their dogs in parks -- on the sidewalks, grass and everything. It's really OK! Wait 'til word gets out about this in Greeley."

I pad along, thinking. This could start a revolution -- dogs have rights, too. In Greeley, dogs should have the right to walk alongside their owners in the parks without fear of recrimination. Now if I can just get my doggie pals in Greeley to organize a bark-in at city hall.

Do you have an opinion about dogs being allowed in Greeley parks? Write or call your elected officials.

» Greeley Mayor Ed Clark, 590-7760, ed.clark@greeleygov.com

»Charles Archibeque, Ward I, 353-2876, bequevision@yahoo.com

»Ed Phillipsen, Ward II, 353-6600, Ed.Phillipsen@greeleygov.com

»Don Feldhaus, Ward III, 330-7522, donfeld7@cs.com

»Pam Shaddock, Ward IV, 381-5180, pam.shaddock@greeleygov.com

»Carrol Martin, At-Large, 356-3572, Carrol.Martin@greeleygov.com

»Maria Secrest, At-Large, 539-0223, maria.secrest@greeleygov.com