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By Brian McGrory, Globe Columnist, 9/24/2002
BEVERLY - I am walking across the sea-scented environs of Lynch Park one recent afternoon in this seemingly pleasant city thinking that this would be an extraordinarily nice place to walk my dog.
On one side is a harbor, on the other is the open ocean, and situated on this 14-acre promontory are a dozen or so picnic tables resting under the lazy branches of ancient trees. There are also an exquisitely manicured rose garden and vast expanses of lush, green grass. And on this day, midday, there's barely another soul around.
Perfect, right?
Well, wrong.
You see, the town fathers of Beverly are taking a step that few politicians anywhere have ever taken. They're not just banning off-leash dogs, not just banning dogs during certain hours, or for certain seasons.
No, they're trying to ban all dogs, all the time. And for that, the good people of Beverly should be utterly ashamed.
Best as I have ever been able to tell, there are two types of people in life: dog people and non-dog people. The dog people are the ones who crouch down when they come across a canine, even a stranger. They'll pick up a drool-soaked tennis ball as if it is a Faberge egg. They have endless time to stop and chat.
The non-dog people will walk in a wide circle; in the best case, they'll offer a stiff-armed pat on the top of the head. They use the word ''pooch.'' And they're always in a rush - i's to dot, t's to cross, so many scowls waiting to be made.
Arthur Sullivan, Beverly's assistant recreation director, would decidedly be a non-dog person. Asked about the proposed ban, he says, ''It has to do with the safety and health of the participants using the park.''
Sure it does, Arthur. Those fluffy golden retrievers and mannerly black Labs have become the scourge of Massachusetts. Let's get the Centers for Disease Control on them right now.
So Arthur and his agency went ahead and posted signs all over Lynch Park: ''No dogs allowed.'' You have a dog, keep out. It couldn't be any simpler, or more disdainful, than that.
And now Arthur and the rest of Beverly will have a stunning park that sits virtually vacant much of the year. It'll look great, but there'll be no people around to see it.
In fact, that's another trait of non-dog people - appearances matter, too much. Dog people will pull clumps of loose fur off their coats and laugh. Non-dog people are horrified by the slightest spatter of mud.
Maybe that's what this city is becoming: far too precious and status-conscious, Hingham with old money and no Dorchester ties. As it is, the neighborhoods and towns in this part of the world are best pronounced with a mouth full of marbles, places like Manchester-by-the-Sea, Prides Crossing, and Beverly Farms.
The fight is on. Last week, 250 dog lovers turned out for a city meeting to rail against the ban. The mayor, a profile in politics, has taken a stand firmly in the middle. The ban will be determined by the City Council in the coming weeks.
Here's something they ought to keep in mind: Dogs add humanity. They romp, they play, and most important, they bring their owners together on the coldest days of winter or the hottest days of summer, creating a sense of community in a place that would otherwise lack it.
The owners look out for one another. They become friends - and more. A neighborhood isn't about buildings, but the people who are in it, and dog people are out and about more than anyone else.
A ban? Please. Town officials should be embracing the dog people. They should want neighbors and their hounds gathered at Lynch Park and every other town field in the early morning light and in the dark of the night.
That sound you hear from the dog people is laughter. Perhaps that's what the prudish non-dog people will try to outlaw next.
Brian McGrory is a Globe columnist. His e-mail address is mcgrory@globe.com.
This story ran on page B1 of the Boston Globe on 9/24/2002.
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