Our Mission

Bangor has long been known as the Queen City of Maine. Together with the communities that make up the Greater Bangor area, it serves as a gateway to Downeast Maine and the wilderness to the north. Thousands of tourists take time from their travels to Acadia National Park and the Katahdin region to dine, shop, or just catch their breath. Every summer, the banks of the Penobscot River come alive with the multi-cultural glory of the American Folk Festival. The city is also proud of the land it has set aside for public recreation, at any of the neighborhood parks throughout the city and also at the Roland Perry City Forest.

Add it all up, and it’s no wonder that Bangor is consistently ranked one of the best small metropolitan areas to live in the United States.

Thirty-one thousand people call Bangor home in addition to 2100 licensed dogs. Based on national statistics, it is likely that the actual dog population in Bangor is in excess of 5,000--possibly as high as 7,600. Even though required by law, a large percentage of dog owners do not license their pets.

Dogs are naturally active animals that require both physical and mental stimulation to thrive. Unfortunately, lifestyles of today’s families often do not provide a dog with adequate stimulation, resulting in overly stressed dogs. It is often said that “a tired dog is a good dog,” and canines that receive optimal physical and mental stimulation are much less likely to develop problematic behaviors like excessive barking and chewing. An ideal activity that provides both types of stimulation is running and playing off leash with like-minded companions.

Unfortunately, Bangor has no formal public area where this activity can safely occur.

Many dog owners are uncomfortable letting their dogs run off leash outside of a fenced-in area. Even well-trained and well-mannered dogs lose track of their boundaries when outside their own yards, and sharing public, general-use parks with other users presents a significant list of concerns. For instance, most dogs, bluntly speaking, need to use the world as their toilet. Although the city has done a commendable job making “doggie bags” available and clearly posting warnings about the animal feces ordinance, the amount of poop that goes un-scooped presents a health and safety problem to park users in general. All concerns are legitimate and are not to be taken lightly, which leaves many dog owners trying to strike a balance between courtesy and a well-exercised pet. These concerns, along with the many associated benefits, are why hundreds of communities around the country have chosen to set aside a special place for dogs to call their own.

However, there are concerns among many dog owners that creating a dog park could ultimately lead to banning dogs from other public parks in Bangor. BARK would like to make clear that we do not support such measures.