The trouble is that “People will come from everywhere, like for our Easter egg hunt…”, anticipates the deputy mayor, feet in the wood chips. Anne-Marie Amsellem, who watches over sustainable development, green spaces and animal protection, is very proud of the dog park just renovated on the island of Puteaux, her town in Hauts-de-Seine. It must be said that the Bulles Dogs outdoor grooming station throws a punch, as soon as you enter the caniparc.
As for the elderly, the giant bathtub has a door. 2 euro coin introduced, the programs shampoo, rinse, conditioner, pest control, gentle or strong drying (“For brushing, use a towel if necessary”) follow one another, with strong jets and a blowing pipe. A welcome refreshment after the health course proposed in the space of free frolics: tunnel, slalom between bollards, buoy to cross with a jump, climbing wall… “Soon there will also be a stick library, specifies the second assistant of Joëlle Ceccaldi-Raynaud, the mayor (LR) of Puteaux. Polished, splinter-free olive wood sticks in a beautiful teak box. »
This year, like only three other towns in the region, Puteaux has reached the Grail. The three-legged level of the “Animal Friendly City” label. A distinction created in 2020 by the Ile-de-France regional council to improve the well-being of pets, on the model of “Towns and villages in bloom”, including town entrance signs – one, two or three paw prints replace the stylized flowers. To satisfy “Residents who have a lot of dogs, especially new ones”specifies Anne-Marie Amsellem, Puteaux has not skimped on the resources offered to it by the business district of La Défense, partially located on its territory.
One-upmanship
Three dog parks, thirteen “sanichiens” for excreta in a vacuum, 145 KiosCan – distributors of compostable bags to pick up droppings – “Wouaf bowls” hung in the fountains, solidarity croquettes at the social grocery store, a shelter for cats streets, dog therapy sessions for the elderly in residence, a card to slip into the wallet that signals the presence of an animal alone at home in the event of emergency hospitalization… Not to mention all these festivities orchestrated by Jocelyn Hourlier, usually responsible for the protocol of the municipality. From “canimarches”, crossing the city behind a gigantic canine mascot, to “aperitif dogs” where, while the master drinks, the pooch gets a massage and caricature, stuffs himself with hot dogs and other cookies cooked to his liking. “For the future, we started on a carnival of animals. Disguised dogs will parade on a stage, complete Jocelyn Hourlier. And we think of a race between masters accompanied by their dog. »
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