Inspired by the dog fountain at Berczy Park in Toronto, citizens of Mount Vernon, Ohio, sought to animate Main Street in their town centre with a similar gesture. Through fundraising and a grant from a local foundation, the project was launched to create a circular basin with 21 dogs around a golden bone perched on a classic Victorian fountain pedestal. Herringbone brick paving, the plaza and fountain, as well as other site animations for public interaction (such as a life-sized cast-iron pony) embody the history of the town and the vernacular of the region.