Fritz Memorial dog park planned

Kimball may soon be home to a dog park in memory of Fritz, the first Kimball County Sheriff's Department K9 officer, who passed away July 31, 2016 following a sudden illness.

Following the loss of Fritz, Kimball Police Department Captain Andy Bremer approached the new Special Projects Coordinator, Amy Sapp, and City Administrator Daniel Ortiz with an idea of a Service Dog Memorial, according to Sapp.

"I hope to construct a memorial in Fritz's name," Bremer said. "I haven't checked into it yet, but a couple old hydrants would be really cool."

The memorial will allow for small plaques to be attached for those who wish to memorialize their dog.

"Bremer envisioned a place where officers, veterans and those with service dogs can memorialize their furry loved one," Sapp said.

Following several discussions with city employees and citizens, the idea for the Fritz Memorial Dog Park began to take shape, Sapp said.

Bremer sought the City Council's support, as well as a tract of City-owned land at Janicek Dam, at their regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Though the City Council will have to allow use of the land, the dog park would be organized as a non-profit venture and would not be city-run.

"Organizations with volunteers 'policing' community run dog parks have a greater success and people are more likely to take ownership and be more responsible with their pets if they have some stake in the property," Sapp said. "I think the location will pull traveling dog owners off the highway and potentially give some of our restaurants and shops a boost."

The proposed site will feature a half-acre lot for small and timid dogs, another half-acre lot for large dogs as well as a memorial area and a large parking lot, totaling 2.5 acres.

"A dog park is an environment where dogs can play off-leash and socialize with other dogs while owners can network and watch their dogs play," Sapp said.

Bremer highlighted the benefits of a dog park during his council address. A dog park benefits dogs, their owners and the community in several ways.

· Dogs who are properly socialized and have adequate exercise are better neighbors because they are less prone to nuisance barking and roaming

· A dog park provides mental exercise to dogs and decreases boredom which is often associated with destructive behavior

· A well-developed dog park brings in local attention and amenities to our area that are deemed good and progressive

· Proper marketing of the dog park by the Visitor's Center, http://www.bringfido.com, and social media outlets could bring in potential business to Kimball

· Dog parks can be used for agility competitions, dog shows, training courses, etc. and could boost the Kimball economy

"Everyone will benefit," Bremer said. "We hope to pull in a few folks off the interstate to use the dog park and possibly get some business in town."

Sapp added that this dream is still in the planning phase with research still to complete. Bremer is looking for dog enthusiasts to help start up a 501c3 organization and for volunteers to help turn this dream into a reality.

For more information on how you can help, please contact Andy Bremer at 308-760-8749.