Darien campaign offers spotlight on furry friends

Darien has designated leash and off-leash areas for dogs.

DARIEN — The town’s Parks & Recreation Department has created a social media campaign to encourage Darien dog owners to make good use of public spaces while sticking to the rules.

Signs that indicate the “Doggy Do” list are posted in various outdoor spaces in town, the goal being to educate residents on pet rules to make the experience more fun for all.

“We want our well-loved furry pets and their owners and our whole community to enjoy our parks, in a healthy and safe way,” the announcement for the Darien Digs Dogs campaign said.

Residents can participate by taking pictures of their dogs following the rules listed on the signs, such as a pet enjoying off-leash time in the designated area at Weed Beach.

Darien has designated leash and off-leash areas for dogs. One particular park, Woodland Park, has continuously presented confusion and a problem for dog owners and other users of the park. Dogs at Woodland Park must be on leash or lead at all times.

Dog owners are further encouraged to dress up for photos with a monthly theme, with previous photos taken with “holiday cheer” in December or Valentine’s Day in February.

The campaign kicked off on Feb. 14. Participants are encouraged to use the hashtag #DarienDigsDogs and indicate which park they are in for the photo. They should also tag @DarienParkandRec on Instagram or Darien Parks and Recreation on Facebook. They can also email Jamie Gore at jgore@darienct.gov or parkrec@darienct.gov to share their photos.