Make a pit stop in the MUTTROPOLIS

Pee Pee Dance
Image source:
Sammy Vicious – WordPress

A few weeks ago, some hoopla over a supposedly controversial “Get Off in Richmond” billboard sign along I-95 went trending (something about sexual innuendo).  According to the sign sponsors, the piece was intended to be a local tourism draw for passersby.  My take:  Whoever smelt it, dealt it.

I propose another sign along I-95 that encourages travelers to get off, and yes, make some smelly things. When you’re traveling with your furry family, they need to hit the rest stop here and there, too.  In the spirit of trip efficiency, you try to take care of your business and your dog’s at the same time—but that doesn’t mean you want to mosey around the dumpsters of a McDonald’s.

Consider this:  A designated “Pet Pit Stop” with lush grass and neighboring parking in Shockoe Bottom near the rising train shed which is a shovel ready project for a central tourist hub in the city.  While we can promote the leisurely incentives to hopping off I-95 into the heart of Richmond, the imperative—i.e., having to pee—is usually a no-brainer.

So your pooch might not do the pee pee dance from the passenger’s seat, but who wouldn’t want to take that pit stop at an attractive destination where they can simultaneously sample our downtown?

At a recent charrette workshop for Shockoe Bottom revitalization I suggested we literally stand up a giant faux pineapple to signify the gateway of southern hospitality.  I think my idea was pretty cool (toot-toot) and the pineapple can welcome both our two-legged and four-legged tourists in chorus.  Plus, economic data reveals the money people spend on their dogs is astonishing.  Think of the potential payback if the train shed housed a Three Dog Bakery in company with a pet pit stop.  On the other hand you don’t need a dog-industry specific storefront; you just need retail that welcomes dogs so families with Fido in tow can patronize businesses.

It’s legitimate to worry about the residual—the poop.  I assume this topic would be one of much debate.  Let’s not miss the point that this dog-welcoming entrée to Richmond could very well pay dividends, economically and for quality of life, in a place where we’re trying to reinvigorate what has in recent history been plagued by blighted property and vagabonds.  We can find ways to mitigate the potential problem with proper disposal stations.

Travelers can stick with the traditional Rest Area dog walks that require them to stay back a gazillion feet from public restrooms where you might feel like you’ll be carjacked and no one will hear the screams because you’re parked in desolate real estate in Intercourse, PA (now that is a sexual reference—ok, so it’s not exactly near I-95 but you get the point) OR; they could stroll around a first-rate puppy pit stop in the heart of charming Virginia.  For many dog parents, your pooch is your kid, and no mama bear wants to hang around some nasty gas station restroom.  So slap on a snazzy (or not so snazzy) sign along I-95 and let the Bottom boom.