For Don and Pam Richards and other families who lost their dogs in the pet boarding facility fire in 2021, the Bark Park ceremony on June 6 was a bittersweet victory. “Things like today, where people can come out and celebrate some wins, means so much to the families. We want to know those dogs did not die in vain, that changes are being made, and that at no time in the future will we ever hear about a tragedy like this,” Don and Pam’s daughter Robin Eissler says.
That day, the City of Georgetown dedicated a memorial plaque and park improvements at the Bark Park, 151 Holly St., to the 75 dogs that passed away in the fire on September 18, 2021. Park improvements include new dog agility equipment in the small-dog park, replacement of equipment in the large-dog park, and new waste cans in both. The city also installed a seating area around the memorial plaque near the entrance that features the names of those lost. “The improvements and memorial dedicated to the dogs lost in that fire and their families will ensure we honor and remember these members of our community for decades to come,” Mayor Josh Schroeder says.