COEUR d'ALENE - It was a canine congregation and furry friend celebration as the Kootenai County Dog Park Association dedicated the new downtown off-leash, fenced dog park at the south end of McEuen Park early Saturday morning.

About 50 people and many of their four-legged companions attended the ceremony, which was presented by retired Coeur d'Alene parks director Doug Eastwood. It included a ribbon cutting and socializing time for the dogs and their people.

Kootenai County Dog Park Association founding member Bob Macdonald of Coeur d'Alene brought his friendly 3-year-old border collie-papillon mix Bugsy to the ceremony.

Macdonald said he feels the new dog park is "absolutely essential."

"We're getting to have more and more people living downtown, and almost every family now has a dog or two, and it's just amazing," he said. "This is going to be a highly used park. It already is since it opened. It's one of my favorites. I come here quite often."

Vance Orr of Coeur d'Alene and his 2-year-old black and white "mutt" mix Auggie also attended.

"We've come down a couple times before," Orr said. "He really likes the ball. He could play ball all day."

A chipper Auggie wagged his tail and looked around excitedly at all the people and other dogs.

"I think it's great," Orr said. "It's another place to come bring your dog and do a little socializing."

Several dog-related vendors and organizations were on site, including the rescue/foster organization Power of the Paw, the Kootenai Humane Society with the amiable, adoptable retriever-mix Jessie and the low-cost spay and neuter organization Animal Allies of Idaho. Mayor Steve Widmyer was also present with his golden retriever.

Tina Raver of Coeur d'Alene is a volunteer with North Idaho Boxer rescue. She was in a large wire kennel keeping adoptable boxers Rusty and Ajax company. She said she is partial to boxers because they are unique, loyal and lovable. She is also glad for the new dog park.

"It's wonderful," she said. "It makes the community more dog-oriented, gives people more outdoor options and socialization options."

The downtown dog park includes a recently built "paw-vilion," on which are already some dog bone-shaped plaques. A plaque can be purchased for $30 and engraved with the name of a loved one and will be displayed on the structure. The funds will go to the Kootenai County Dog Park Association, which is supported by 100 percent private donations.

"I just want to remind people that it's a great place for people to socialize," said Kootenai County Dog Park Association member Judy Busath of Coeur d'Alene. "Even people that don't have dogs can come and enjoy it."

Her golden retrievers, Molly and Newman, frolicked happily in the fenced area.

"They love it," she said. "Getting close to the park, they drool all over. They love meeting people as well as the dogs."

Dog parks in Coeur d'Alene have been in the works for about six years. The community now boasts three off-leash dog parks: Central Bark at Atlas Road and Nez Perce Drive, Cherry Hill Park at north 15th Street and east Hazel Avenue and now the new one in McEuen.

Info: www.kcdogpark.com