Beaumont's Canine Country Club

 “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”—Novelist Anatole France

As “top dog” in canine-friendly Beaumont, Ernie Sherman is our very own dog park mayor.

You can watch him “preside” over the goings on virtually every day at the Canine Country Club in Noble Creek Community Park. He’s joined by Shiloh, a Border collie, whose bark seems to say, “C’mon, let’s play!” to other dogs. And also at his side is Fred, a friendly Beagle, who loves to greet everybody.

“I hardly ever miss a day,” the 86-year-old Sherman said. “It doesn’t make any difference what the weather is.  We come!”

Named honorary mayor

In December 2012, Sherman was named “honorary mayor” of the dog park by the   Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District. The special district, which serves Beaumont and Cherry Valley, operates Noble Creek Community Park.

“He practically runs things,” said district General Manager Mickey Valdivia.

Since the ¾-acre park opened in 2008, Sherman has been busy keeping track of his constituents (canine and human) just like good mayors do. He’s got a book now filled with the names of about 650 canine visitors—plus the names of pet owners. Some dogs have been coming since they were pups. Sherman keeps office hours at the dog park from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week, so come by and say hello!

“I just enjoy the camaraderie,” Sherman says. “Dogs being dogs, people being people and everybody getting along.”

Pet-friendly town

When a RV park was built at Noble Creek Community Park, local residents quickly saw the need for a dog park. Many visitors had dogs with no place to run and frolic, so many ended up on nearby baseball fields.

The Park and Recreation District formed a Citizens Advisory Committee, came up with dog park rules and built the park with $90,000 in redevelopment money. It’s open dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

So whether you own a German shepherd or a Chihuahua, your pet will be very comfortable at the Canine Country Club. The park has separate areas for big dogs and small ones, so your pets can get to know and enjoy each other.

And so running free at the Canine Country Club, dogs enjoy a slice of heaven along with their best friends—the human kind—and the park becomes a place of great joy for pet lovers throughout the Pass!