Tossing cold water on ‘flag’ hydrant

A fire hydrant painted as an American flag has been removed from a dog park in Hillsboro after complaints that it was disrespectful to let dogs use it for what dogs do.

The new leash-free park was named for Hondo, a police dog killed 10 years ago chasing a suspect, and the flag-painted hydrant was intended as a tribute to him. “We put a lot of effort into it,” artist Jason Ross said.

However, after a photo of the hydrant appeared in the Oregonian newspaper, complaints began arriving at the parks department that it was disrespectful of the flag. Parks officials said there had been no reports of dogs urinating on the hydrant but decided to move it anyway.