June Mastonardi and Peter Hood had never even signed a petition before February 2008. But then they read a newspaper article about a movement in the Parks and Recreation Commission to limit access for dogs on Fairfield's beaches in the winter or to charge their guardians up to $800 per year for the privilege. They sprang into action: After all, nobody messed with their husky-white shepherd mix, Zach.
"We were asking for signatures that same day," June says. The couple started Fairfield Beach Access and gathered hundreds of like-minded Fairfielders to join the cause. Eventually, they won at least an acceptable compromise. There would be no fees, and dogs are still allowed on all town beaches from Oct. 1 through March 31. They managed to keep one beach Jennings leash-free.
"Most days you go down there in the winter, and the only people you see there are these fools with their dogs," Peter says, chuckling. "And yet, there was this small minority [against it], and we were being threatened."
But even after the victory in 2008 and even though Zach died last year, the pair kept the group alive. They now have 1,300 members, just in case the issue comes up again.
They have also kept the website live for informational purposes. They keep up-to-date pages with the regulations, so guardians ("I hate the word 'owner,'" says Peter) know their rights. And they also run tide charts, so animal lovers know when they can have more room to play.
"Were it to be low tide right now, you could walk from Jennings Beach ... and go on to Penfield, provided you stay below the high-water mark," Peter says.
Now, they say, they're expanding their scope even further. They have information on general dog care on the website, including nutrition and the dangers of hyperthermia, and are adding more constantly.
And they have turned their attention to a new issueFairfield's other open spaces. They announced their support for the Coalition Against Hunting in Open Spaces, a group trying to block new laws that would allow deer hunting in currently protected areas.
But either way, Peter says, "You're safe at the beach."
Do you take your dog to Fairfield's beaches in the winter? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.
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