FARMINGTON — Freedom to run and play without a leash is what Brian Hand hopes to provide for dogs, both those at the Franklin County Animal Shelter and for the local dog community.

the Boy Scout with Troop 546 in Temple has proposed building a community dog park at the animal shelter for his Eagle Scout project. The project is the primary requirement for becoming an Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts highest honor.

Hand said he hopes to have the dog park ready in June. Along with planning the park and enlisting troop members to help clear the space and install fencing and gates, he is also raising funds for the project. An estimate for fencing runs about $1,500. There’s also a drainage ditch that must be spanned to provide access to the park and a bench or two to purchase for canine owners.

The park, destined for a space behind the recently constructed outdoor dog kennels on the front portion of the shelter property on Industry Road, will allow some shelter dogs to be led from the kennels to free play in the park, Heidi Jordan, executive director of the animal shelter, said. The covered kennels will have an aisle through the middle for access to the dogs but the dogs will have to be led to the park. The kennels still need to be installed on the cement pad.

While many Scouts do a project that benefits a town, Hand wanted to do something to help an organization, he said.  His love of dogs and the needs presented by a shelter, overabundant with cats and dogs, led him to this project.

The high school junior, who is mostly home-schooled but who takes one class at Mt. Blue High School, has been a Scout for about a half-dozen years, he said.

This is the fifth Eagle Scout project undertaken be members of the troop, but it’s the first one they have done in Farmington.

Dogs at the shelter do not normally have the chance to go unleashed, except within the confines of a kennel, Jordan said. The ones allowed in the park when community dogs are there will be selected according to their abilities with social behaviors.

Dogs who are exercised daily present themselves as better prospects to potential adopters, according to the shelter staff. By watching the dogs play with other dogs, the staff will know more about the dog’s personality and be able to provide more information about the animal to potential adoptive families.

The park will also provide a fenced area for community dogs to run and play and the chance to interact with other dogs.

Showing skills of leadership and ability while learning the lessons of undertaking a project, Hand takes full responsibility for planning, organizing help and fundraising for the project. 

A Scout develops an idea for a project and seeks approval from the community or nonprofit organization where he wants to help. He then takes his plan to troop leaders and the local Boy Scout council.

Once approved, he takes charge, although he will work with the shelter staff to create the layout of the park.

“We’ll help but he’s in charge,” Jordan said.

Anyone who would like to make a donation may send it to the Franklin County Animal Shelter at 550 Industry Road, Farmington, ME 04938. Mark checks for dog park, he said.

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