Health

Dispute over mask-wearing ‘Dog Rock’ in Walpole

WALPOLE, Mass. — A painted boulder in Walpole affectionately known as “Dog Rock” has become controversial for some residents after a face mask was added to the pooch’s face.

For 18 years, Joey Dugdale, with help from a couple other residents, has been touching up and mulching around the unofficial Walpole landmark that sits on public property along popular cut-through Plimpton Street.

In the spring, Dugdale painted a mask on the dog’s face, to represent the coronavirus pandemic the country is dealing with and to honor those on the front lines.

“Once the whole pandemic happened, I decided as a thank you to the essential workers, I put the mask on there,” Dugdale said. “And the feedback was amazing. Not only were people grateful I did it for that, but also children found a way for having to wear a mask themselves by seeing the mask on the Dog Rock.”

But on Saturday, Dugdale’s work was undone. He was notified that the rock, also known as “Snoopy Rock” had been repainted. The mask had been removed, exposing a different version of the dog face that has been on the rock for decades.

“Someone decided to paint away the mask and put a smile on there that doesn’t quite look like the way it’s supposed to,” Dugdale said. “So it’s a little funny-looking right now.”

Christian Boran, who grew up less than a mile from the boulder, admitted to Dugdale – and Boston 25 News – that he had repainted the rock.

“I just popped a U-ey,” Boran said of seeing Dog Rock on Saturday, “and I drove back to the hardware store, and I painted it up.”

Hours later, when Dugdale learned the rock had been repainted, he returned to Dog Rock and painted the mask back on again. The following day, Boran returned with his spray paint and removed the mask once again. The unmasked version remained Tuesday night.

Boran said his reason for removing the mask isn’t political and he doesn’t oppose wearing a mask; he simply wants some normalcy considering the pandemic the country is dealing with as well as so much unrest.

“When the mask got painted on the Dog Rock, fine, whatever. But it’s been a few months, and as a country we need something a little normal,” Boran said. “And I’m only one guy. What can I do to make things somewhat normal for me and my community? And I just so happened to be driving by the Dog Rock, and I painted it.”

Boran admitted his work didn’t exactly match the old Snoopy Rock.

“I know people think I didn’t do a great job with the smile and whatnot,” said Boran, adding that he didn’t have red paint for the tongue. “I was working from memory, and the mask covered a lot. So I didn’t really have much to work off of.”

Dugdale and Boran exchanged words on Facebook, with Boran committing to removing the mask each time Dugdale paints it on.

“I will be here every time the mask is painted on it. I will change it back,” Boran said to Boston 25 News Tuesday. “Just leave it Snoopy. Leave it neutral. Don’t force anything on it. Nothing against masks either. I just don’t want them on the Dog Rock. And dogs can’t even catch coronavirus.”

Dugdale said the dispute has made him decide not to continue maintaining the rock after so many years.

“For now, definitely I am done,” Dugdale said. “I’m not going to play games and constantly having work just covered up.”

The dispute has led to more than 1,000 Walpole residents weighing in. At least 900 people in a Facebook poll Dugdale created supported his efforts. Others signed a petition on Change.org backing Boran’s effort to remove the mask.

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RESOURCES:

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