This is such a wonderful project and we sincerely hope it will inspire others to do the same. What better way to break the ice than through your family dog?!

Let Mr. Pajo explain:

“We have a lot of dog walkers in our area and, with all the negative (stuff) going on in the world these days, I wanted to create a spot where we can put all our differences aside and just mingle with our furry friends,” Pajo explained.

With that thought in mind, he made his front yard extra pet-friendly and hung up a sign proclaiming the busy corner in front of his home as the “Fair Oaks Village dog stop.”

A faucet supplies clean fresh water to a stainless steel drinking dish. A large covered pot provides free dog treats. A bench invites visitors to rest and relax along with their pooches. But that was only the beginning.

A landscape designer, Pajo started decorating. He hung blooming baskets of flowers to add to the corner's village charm. He set out bowls of fresh plums, peaches and pluots picked from his backyard trees. In the spirit of the fall season, he added hay bales, pumpkins and gourds to this little oasis.

Then he invited people to snap photos of their pets and promised to post them – not just online, but physically at the rest stop.

“I post them as soon as possible – and the community loves it,” Pajo said. In the month or so since he started the “dog stop,” more than 20 guests have shared photos ranging from Felix, the expressive basset hound, to cheery golden retrievers.

With its free-roaming chickens and animal-friendly attitude, Fair Oaks Village has been a perfect neighborhood for a dog stop.

The area is seasonally decorated, which is lovely and festive. There are always treats and fresh water for your pooch and the atmosphere is hospitable and positive. One frequenter calls it a sort of Facebook for dogs!

To read more please go to The News & Observer.

Thank you to the Pajo family for making this happen! It's so great that people and their furry friends can take a rest whenever it’s needed. The bonding between people and pets is awesome!