MATTAPOISETT — The morning of August 25 found Mattapoisett resident Freemin Bauer outside of the town's Fire Department, dressed in a dog costume and waving to cars passing by on Route 6.

It may not be the most usual Saturday morning, but for Bauer, it's just another walk in the park. Bauer has spearheaded a movement to construct a dog park in Mattapoisett over the last several years. The dog costume he donned was a walking advertisement for his annual dog park construction fundraiser, the Mattapoisett Dog Walkathon.

The walkathon, now in its third year, took place over four hours on Saturday morning. The cool and sunny weather brought several new friends to the dog walkathon, said organizer Jodi Bauer, Freemin's mother. Several area residents who participated in the past returned as well.

Dogs and their owners strolled around Mattapoisett Village from 8 a.m. until noon, paying $10 per walker to benefit construction of a dog park in town.

Best of all in this year's walkathon, according to Jodi Bauer, was the level of support shown for the dog park. "Some people didn't even walk," she said. "They just came over to say hello and bring us a donation."

Organizers of the walkathon woke to blue skies and cool weather; the perfect weather for a walk.

In fact, Bauer said, the weather was a little too perfect. "I'm guessing a lot of people also went out on their boats today," she laughed.

Bauer said Freemin isn't giving up on his plan to bring a dog park to Mattapoisett. The teenager was the driving force behind a recent movement to garner $75,000 in Community Preservation funds for a dog park near the current Mattapoisett Police Station.

The plan was ultimately nixed by Mattapoisett voters at the annual Town Meeting in May. Jodi Bauer called the decision "disappointing." Nevertheless, she said, Freemin had not given up on his idea.

"We just have to keep plugging away," she said.