New online resource is available to find dog parks in your community.
By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff Now is a great time to get started on that New Year’s resolution to lose a few pounds. There can be no more enjoyable way to get some exercise than to visit your local dog park with your best friend.
Dog parks have become increasingly popular in recent years. Off leash recreational areas (OLRA) may be small or large, fenced or open, but all are areas intended for the enjoyment of dogs. According to
The Case for Space Expanding Recreational Opportunities for Dog Owners and Their Pets, there are many benefits to bringing a dog to an OLRA, including reduced aggression, increased socialization, and an improved mental state. “A tired dog is a happy owner” is a phrase commonly heard among dog park aficionados. Such areas also provide benefits to their guardians. People at dog parks socialize with one another and tend to get exercise themselves while watching their dogs play. Plus the dog park rules help promote responsible pet guardianship and encourage good behavior.
However, how do you find out where such recreational areas are located? According to Tracy, creator of
Dog-Park-USA.com, when she began her search, “It was really hard to find the parks around here.” Some parks are run by the city, some by the county, and others are privately held, so she could not find a one-stop resource containing accurate and up-to-date information on local dog parks.
(Screen shot from one of the many dog parks listed on Dog-Park-USA.com)Since she and her rescued dog, Dory, go to a dog park once to twice a week (Dory even knows the term “dog park”), she started compiling a list for easy reference. However, Tracy soon realized she could create a website database for the whole country. The site launched in August 2007 and now has over 400 dog parks posted where dogs are allowed to run off-leash.
“From the sites I have seen this one is special because of the interactive maps and this hopefully makes it easy to find parks in an area,” states Tracy. “Also, I am personally researching these parks to ensure they are legal meeting areas and still in operation; and I hope to keep this information up to date.” Site visitors first select a state, which is then divided into towns or counties. Each dog park is listed as fenced, not fenced, or privately owned. Click on an individual park and it provides a wealth of information including address, hours, who manages the park, fees (if any), if there are human bathroom facilities, and an interactive Google map showing exactly where the park is located. Some entries even have photos, ratings, reviews, and rules.
In addition to a nationwide listing of off leash areas, Dog-Park-USA.com features dog related articles, videos, and photos of dogs that are submitted by website users. One of the site’s newest features is Dog Talk, a forum where people can discuss dog related topics online.
Tracy and her husband, Greg, maintain the site as a public service to get more people outside interacting with their dogs. Tracy states, "Dog parks are great because they allow our dogs to have fun and socialize with other dogs. It is also a place for people to go with their dogs."
Though Tracy anticipates a future cross-country road trip to visit various dog parks, she has not herself visited most of the listed parks. She researches online for new places to add and encourages input from others to make the site inclusive. Site users can leave reviews and submit information and photos for parks that are not yet posted.
So start your New Year right. Log on today for directions to your nearest dog park, grab a leash, and going. Your dog will thank you for it.
(Greg with Dory at Scotts Valley Dog Park)
Some typical dog park rules (though they vary from park to park):
• Clean up after your dog
• No aggressive dogs, dogs that show signs of aggression should be removed
• No female dogs that are in heat (some parks mandate that all dogs must be spayed or neutered)
• Dogs are not to be left unattended
• No food or drinks are allowed in the park, with the exception of water for your dog (if fountain is not available)
• Make sure your dog is current on all vaccinations and has proper identification, dogs that are sick should not come to the park
• No puppies under four months of age
• No children unless accompanied by an adult
• The guardian must have a leash at all times and dogs must be leashed upon entering and leaving the dog park
• Guardians accept all responsibility and liability for the actions of their dogs
How you can help:• No dog park in your neighborhood? You can start one yourself. See
No More Homeless Pets: Creating a Dog Park for Your Community for tips on how to begin.
• Become an active participant in Dog-Park-USA.com.
Submit new dog parks to be included on the site, publish a review, and send in your favorite dog park photos. The more people who contribute, the better the site will become.
For more information: •
Dog Park USA website•
DogPlay.com: Dog Parks, Dog Runs and Off Leash Play •
Delta Society: Dog Park ResourcesPhoto credit: provided courtesy of Dog-Park-USA.