by Joanne Bourbeau,
Reprinted with permission from Animal Sheltering, May-June 1998. Found on Delta Society website, August 2006.

Dog Parks: Strengthening the human-Animal Bond

It's a clear, sunny afternoon in Southern California. A perfect day for a drive along the coast, where you can watch tall ocean waves crashing against the shore, seagulls dancing along the wet sand, couples walking hand in hand—and a few dozen dogs running loose.

No, this isn't an animal control officer's nightmare. It's a typical day on "Dog Beach" at the west end of the San Diego River Floodway, one of two area beaches that allow licensed dogs without leashes at all times of the day. All over the country, these places­­commonly referred to as "dog parks"­­are rising in popularity and demand.

A dog park is an area designated specifically for the use of dogs and their owners. Most are managed by users in cooperation with local government, but some parks are privately operated. They may range in size from one-quarter acre to more than 50 acres, some with fencing and some without. All dog parks, however, share one common purpose: to provide an area where dogs can run legally, safely, and free from restraint.

The burden of dog park maintenance and oversight generally falls with the user group in conjunction with the parks and recreation department. This includes things like dog waste removal and making sure the park stays clean.

It's a Dog's Life

The top benefit of a dog park is what is does for the dogs themselves. It gives them the space and freedom to run off-leash with other members of their species, all while being safely supervised.

A dog park is not only a secure place for dogs to engage in the vigorous exercise essential to their well-being. For some city dwellers, a dog park may also provide their only chance to interact with other dogs and people. And because a well-socialized dog is less likely to develop behavior problems such as aggression and excessive barking, an outdoor "club for canines" may help reduce associated neighborhood conflicts.

"In this day and age, when we're all working, [it's essential] that we create a place where dogs can go and stretch their legs and get socialized in a play group," says Kate Pullen, director of the Animal Welfare of Alexandria, VA, which was instrumental in creating public open-space areas for unleashed dogs back in the early '70s. "It's [important] for a healthy, happy dog."

Dog parks may be critical for the owners' happiness too. While their dogs are busy socializing with each other, owners are doing the same, creating a sense of camaraderie. And dog parks perform an even greater service: strengthening the human-animal bond. "[Going to a dog park] is an activity that an owner and dog can do together," says Madeline Bernstein, president of the Los Angeles SPCA. "For many people, the dogs really are their only companions. If they can go to a dog park, it gives them a reason to get dressed, go out, socialize, play with their dog, and strengthen that bond between them. If that doesn't serve a community need, I don't know what does."

From Leash Laws to Humane Education

Believe it or not, a leash-free space in your community may also make your the local animal control's job a little easier.

"As an animal control officer, [having a dog park] makes it much easier for me when I see a dog off-leash," says Diana Johnson of the Bowling Green, OH, Police Department. "I can make the owner aware that we have a dog park. From an animal-control standpoint, I think it's wonderful."

A Different Type of Neighborhood Watch

Dog parks can provide these benefits, but only if they are run responsibly. Successful dog parks post rules and regulations for users, who are expected to obey those rules or leave the park.  Whenever and wherever you have several dogs in a relatively small space, problems are bound to arise, especially if the park is overcrowded and attracts irresponsible owners.

Holmes Lake Park, a city-operated dog areas in Lincoln, NE, has been plagued by occasional problems-including one pit bull fight. "It's the few bad apples that can create problems, and someone can get hurt," says Jim Weverka, manager of the city's animal control department and president of the National Animal Control Association.

Careful planning and maintenance can minimize these risks. Dog park managers have found that the best way to keep the peace is to form a dog park "user group" that monitors and remedies problems. If, for example, a dog acts aggressively toward other dogs or people within the park, other owners point out the problem to the dog's handler. If the problem persists, both dog and handler are simply asked to leave.

The peer group also tries to rectify potential health problems that could arise when an unfamiliar animal joins the park. The group can educate other users about the importance of spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping.

Not Everyone Is a Dog Person

A successful dog park must also appease non-users, whose concerns range from safety of wildlife to sanitation problems. Sometimes owners needs to be reined in to clean up after their dogs and to teach their dogs to stay in designated areas.

Another important but treatable problem occurs in unfenced parks, where people in other areas of the mark may receive the occasional, and possibly unwelcome, canine visitor. Facilities should be encouraged to identify the off-leash areas that are used most often so they can be fenced in.

Structured appropriately, dog parks can be a help, not a hindrance, to those who'd rather not be around dogs. Dog parks with proper fencing and barriers segregate these animals from areas of the park being used for other activities life softball games and playgrounds. What's more, "dog non-enthusiasts" may be less likely to encounter dogs throughout their community (both restrained and unrestrained) because dog owners are naturally attracted to the dog park and its amenities.

Few Things in Life Are Free

Even after a planned dog park wins the support of the general public, there's still another hurdle to overcome: paying for the park. Building and maintaining a fenced area within an existing park can add up to big bucks-money the municipality may not be willing to put up alone. In many cases, the dog park users must underwrite the costs through fundraisers and private donations.

The DOG user group in Sausalito has provided more than $36,000 in improvements to its park with money raised solely from donations of park users. In addition to the original fencing, Remington Park now has other amenities such as lighting, a storage shed, riding lawnmower, picnic tables, benches, a dog drinking-water area, and a waste disposal station. Although the city provides services including water, electricity and garbage removal, dog owners have maintained the park since its opening. A city and user group unwilling or unable to follow Sausalito's example may soon end up with a dog park that looks like a junkyard.

Making the Big Sale

Despite the many benefits of a dog park, city planners, who are naturally conservative when it comes to changing city rules and uses, may concentrate solely on the risks and drawbacks. They may cite such obstacles as aggressive dogs, waste-related health concerns, oppositions from some citizens, and park maintenance costs. So how can proponents convince city planners to develop a community dog park?

Rather than dismiss their concerns, [dog park proponents] should enter into a dialogue and be ready with statistics and experiences that allay or refute their concerns," says Priscilla Stockner, DVM, executive director of the Animal Center/Humane Society in Escondido, CA, whose privately-operated dog park has remained relatively problem-free since its opening in 1992-even with 250 to 300 dogs visiting per week.

Jennifer Goldfinger, a senior management analyst for the City of Novato, agrees. She advises groups to be prepared to jump through all the hoops involved in dealing with a municipality. "[A dog park] is definitely a positive addition to the community, but it has to be very well thought out," she says.

If you plan to join other dog owners to lobby your community for a dog park, consider showing planners the success of other dog parks in the area. This may be especially useful in allaying fears over liability and lawsuits. According to MHS's Rick Johnson, no dog park-related lawsuits have been field in Marin County since the first public dog park opened in 1989. Johnson attributes this to the fact that dogs in these parks are usually socialized and under control and that user groups work to diffuse problems quickly. Cities, he notes, are sued more for defective playground equipment than for problems in dog parks.

To appeal to decisionmakers' desire to please their constituents, Johnson recommends that dog park proponents sell the idea as a park for people. "Dogs tend to create a focus that shouldn't be there," he explains. "The focus should be on the people who deserve part of the park system."

Creating a dog park requires the involvement and cooperation of many diverse groups that are affected by the project, including animal care and control agencies, city government officials, dog owners, and citizens residing near the proposed park. By involving these people early on in the discussions, and addressing any concerns that may crop up along the way, communities can create long-lasting partnerships that will improve the lives of all their inhabitants, dogs included.

by Joanne Bourbeau,
Reprinted with permission from Animal Sheltering, May-June 1998. Found on Delta Society website, August 2006.

Photo credit: Jerry Davis, Seattle ©1999. http://www.DeltaSociety.com