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adapted from:
Ward 9
Councillor Pat Saito
City of Mississauga & Region of Peel
http://www.ward9.ca/benefitsandconcerns.htm
Off-Leash Dog Parks
Benefits and Concerns
BENEFITS
- dogs can
exercise safely off leash -- owners are required to carry
a leash at all times and dogs must be on leash to and from the
parking lot
- owners
can meet other dog owners -- socializing humans is fun but
make sure you are watching your dog at all times. Owners discuss
health issues and much important information is shared.
- dogs can
learn to socialize and play with other dogs of various breeds
-- some dogs do not learn this skill and may not fit into the
off-leash setting as easily as others. If your dog tends to become
dominant, pester other dogs, show aggression towards other dogs,
then you should either keep your dog on leash (which I do not
advise) or remove your dog from the park and visit at a less busy
time.
- other
parks will be free of dogs at large -- unfortunately owners
still continue to let their dogs run off-leash in public parks.
With an option to go to an off-leash facility available, there
is less excuse for any dog to be off-leash in public. [If enough
off-leash areas are provided within walking distance then there
will be no excuse for any dog to be off-leash in public. Unfortunately
not all dog owners have access to a car to drive a few miles to
a off-leash zone. A couple of solutions might be: 1.more off-leash
zones (preferrably fenced) and 2. allow leashed dogs on public
transit so people and their dogs can ride to the off-leash area.
Some dog owners may not be aware of off-leash areas, information
signs with maps in public parks would help educate dog owners.]
- dog owners
can learn about other dogs and training -- Many dog owners
have come to the park with untrained dogs, seen how their dogs
react and have opted to take them for obedience training. This
is a benefit to all.
- Animal
Control has issued more dog licenses to owners at the parks
as people become more aware of the requirements.
CONCERNS
- some dogs
may be intimidated by large groups of dogs -- if your dog
is small and/or shy, he may feel intimidated by large groups of
larger dogs. Dogs sometimes know that another dog is less confident
and may chase or pester that dog. It is up to the owners to manage
their dogs. The dominating dog should be controlled and corrected
and the intimidated dog may feel more secure and happier in either
the small dog areas or in another setting. I also advise that
you not bring dogs like this into the park at the busy times.
[Solution: large fenced dog parks with 2 areas, one for dogs over
35 lbs and one for dogs under 35 lbs.]
- there
is potential for dogs to fight -- when dogs play and are running
and jumping in groups or packs, there is always potential for
the activity to get out of hand and fighting may occur. Dogs may
also fight to establish dominance. That is why the owners MUST
be watching over their dogs at all times. There have been relatively
few incidents in the parks since they first opened but there have
been fights between dogs with a few resulting in one or both dogs
requiring medical attention. In each case the dogs were kept away
from the parks for some time and then brought back in on leash
and kept under tight control by their owners. All of the dogs
have been able to return and no further occurrences have been
reported. [See bibliography reference #2 below for more information
regarding dog aggression incidents in dog parks.]
- there
is a potential for dogs to bite adults or children -- Anyone
entering an off-leash park assumes some risk in doing so. You
will be with a large group of dogs, many of whom you do not know.
Parents are asked to watch their children carefully and to ensure
that your child knows how to approach unknown dogs. It is not
advisable to bring very young children when the park is very busy
as they can be knocked over by running dogs. Parents should know
that there is potential for dogs to jump on adults and children.
There are children at many of the parks and from time to time
the parents have had to be told to keep better control of their
children as their behaviour has been unacceptable. These are NOT
children's playgrounds. they are DOG parks. As the operators tell
dog owners "Your children are always welcomes long as you
keep them under your control at all times". There
have been no incidents of a dog biting a human, with the exception
of the dog that bit his owner.
- there
are piles of dog feces in busy parks -- If everyone picked
up after their dogs, we wouldn't have this problem. Most off-leash
park owners are very responsible about cleanups. Bags and waste
bins are abundant in the parks and owners are notified if their
dog is seen "pooping" in the park and the owner hasn't
seen it. The reality is that not everyone does cleanup after their
dog and regular park users can be seen doing daily rounds picking
up after other dogs. We appreciate this but would rather see everyone
responsible for their own dog's messes. My
Parks staff report that the off-leash parks are considerably cleaner
and freer from feces than the local parks in the community.
- some owners
don't control their dogs -- This is true. Just as there are
owners who do not control their dogs in local parks, so too there
are some who behave this way in the off-leash parks. The clubs
do not tolerate this and have the authority to ask the owner to
leave the park and may ban future use if the rules are not adhered
to. Owners who let their dogs chase, pester, dominate or annoy
other dogs without taking any action to control their dog fall
into this category. We ask park users to report these owners to
the operating committee to take action.
- with so
many dogs playing together, there is potential for my dog to pick
up diseases
-- Yes there is. In any situation where there are a lot of dogs
that you don't know, there is that potential. It is up to the
owners to make sure that their own dogs are healthy before taking
them to an off-leash park (or any park).
Some of the diseases that may be transmitted through feces or
from other dogs include Parvo, Lepto, tapeworm, giarrdia. I advise
that you talk to your vet before bringing your dog to the park
and take whatever precautions she advises to protect your own
dog [such as vaccinated your dog]. If your dog is sick, DO NOT
take him to the off-leash at any time in case his illness can
be transmitted to other dogs. Fortunately
there have been no reported cases of any of these diseases from
dogs using the parks regularly.
- these
parks are adding to my tax costs -- all of the park costs
are borne by the users through fundraising and membership fees.
The City has up-fronted costs and every penny has been paid back
in record time. This is the only group that pays totally for park
services. [Remember, dog owners are tax payers too.]
- the off-leash
parks are reducing regular park space
-- In the case of most of the off-leash areas, this isn't true.
In the others, the park area was being used by dog owners before
they were legalized. The by-law made them safer for everyone.
Council recognized that dog owners have a right to useable park
areas as does everyone else. They are paying for the privilege
of having a special place to exercise their dogs.
Other sites
that list benefits and concerns:
- South
Bay Dog Parks - 1. Benefits of dog parks 2. Answers to common
arguments against dog parks
Dog Park Bibliography:
-
Unleashing
doggie recreation across North America.
Parks & Recreation Canada, 2003, Vol.61, No.1, pp.30-31
ABSTRACT:
Recreation programmes for dogs and their owners across North
America are described. These include: beaches for dog swims;
"skijoring" (cross-country skiing with dogs); dog
vacation retreats; dog paddling adventures; and dog parks.
-
Shyan, M.
R.; Fortune, K. A.; King, C. "Bark parks" - a study
on interdog aggression in a limited-control environment.
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2003, Vol.6, No.1,
pp.25-32, 16 ref.
ABSTRACT:
As limited-control dog parks become more popular, concerns arise
about whether these parks encourage interdog aggression. Systematic
observations made at 1 park in Indianapolis, USA over 72 h (between
1600 and 1830 h, 3-5 times a week) across 8 months (between
March and November 2001) found that 28 conflicts or potential
conflicts occurred (<0.5%). Of these, 14 were clear aggressive
episodes. Each lasted less than 1 min (<0.33% of total observation
time). There were 14 other incidents of possible aggression
that were ambiguous in nature. Each lasted less than 30 seconds
(<0.17%). None of these incidents led to serious injury.
Of the 177 dogs observed, only 9 were aggressive toward other
dogs (5%): 6 aggressors, once each; 2 aggressors, twice each
and 1 aggressor, 3 times. Results indicate that aggression in
limited-control dog parks may be relatively rare and probably
presents only a limited risk to dogs and their caregivers (owners).
In part, this may be because owners who frequent dog parks are
self-selecting, self-monitoring and self-limiting in regard
to dog aggression.
-
Off leash?
Oh my! Dog parks are a rapidly growing phenomenon.
Dogs in Canada v.92(10) My'01 pg 20-24
-
Dog
Park Committee Report - Davis, California
Sections: What Is A Dog Park; Community Issues; Location and
Environment; Amenities; Operations and Maintenance; Funding
and Fund Raising; Bibliography
-
Webley,
P., et. al., Why do some owners allow their dogs to foul the
pavement? The
social psychology of a minor rule infraction.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology v. 30 no. 7 (July 2000)
p. 1371-80
ABSTRACT:
This study combines observational, attitudinal, and self-report
measures, and compares a group of irresponsible dog owners who
allow their dogs to foul with a control group of responsible
owners who clean up after their dogs. The owners are compared
on a variety of attitudinal and personal orientation measures.
We observed 101 instances of dog fouling in both park and pavement,
and 87 respondents subsequently returned questionnaires. The
majority (59{percent}) of people observed cleaned up after their
dogs. The irresponsible owners were significantly more tolerant
of fouling (dog feces were seen as natural waste and biodegradable)
and were more likely to agree that the laws were illegitimate
and restrictive. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
-
Swope, C.
Civic Doody. Governing v. 15 no. 11 (August 2002) p. 18
ABSTRACT:
The writer discusses initiatives that cities have tried to get
people to clean up after their dogs.
-
Kawczynska,
C. See Spot run [parks with off-leash areas].
Utne Reader no. 98 (March/April 2000) p. 90-1
ABSTRACT:
An article excerpted from the fall 1999 issue of The Bark. Off-leash
areas (OLAs) are cropping up in parks in many North American
cities. San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., are some of
the cities where OLAs, sections of parks where dogs are allowed
to run free, are available. Nicholas Dodman, a veterinarian
and behaviorist at Tufts University, says dogs do not get sufficient
exercise if they are kept on a leash. Off-leash recreation is
turning into one of the most politically challenging and hotly
debated subject for local legislators, however. The size of
the OLA is the most important and most contentious issue, but
fencing, neighbor-friendly parking, compliance with Americans
with Disabilities Act requirements, buffer zones for neighbors
concerned about barking, covered trash receptacles, and poop-disposal
products are some of the other issues being debated.
-
Fayhee,
M.J. Pet peeves [backpacking with dogs].
Backpacker v. 28 no. 3 (April 2000) p.
74-8, 124
ABSTRACT:
In parks, forests, and wilderness areas all over the United
States, the issue of dogs in the backwoods is controversial.
Bans have been put in place, restrictions are being considered,
there have been reports of trailside fights, and more citations
are issued to recalcitrant dog owners in some wilderness areas
than to all other transgressors combined. Opponents of the presence
of dogs on hiking trails say that the creatures harass wildlife,
foul water sources, bite hikers, dampen the wilderness ambiance
with their growling and barking, soil the trail, and are overly
fond of marking their terrain if they are male. However, most
backcountry dog controversies could be avoided if the owners
acted responsibly. The writer discusses the arguments of both
sides in the debate and provides information on the regulations
governing dogs in park, forest, and wilderness areas.
-
When man
bites dog [leash laws in the U.S.].
The Economist v. 351 no. 8123 (June 12
1999) p. 27
ABSTRACT:
At present in urban America, few issues are hotter than whether
dogs should be given free run of public parks in "off-leash"
areas. Disputes over dogs have exploded in, to name but a few,
Florida, Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Wyoming, and Washington.
The fuss has arisen due to several new developments in canine
demographics that have complicated the issue, to the culture
clash between owners and non-owners, and to the aggressive behavior
of some dogs. Although dog owners have had the upper hand to
date, this may be changing.
-
Barstow,
D. Unwanted pets ditched in a Brooklyn dog haven.
New York Times (Late New York Edition) (February 12 2000) p.
A1
ABSTRACT:
Scores of desperate dog owners are sneaking into Prospect Park
in Brooklyn and leaving behind dogs they can no longer care
for. The park has become a popular dumping ground largely because
it is a dog lover's haven. There are liberal rules for letting
dogs run free and even special doggie water fountains. Members
of a dog owner's group named FIDO (Fellowship for the Interests
of Dogs and their Owners), have adopted many of the abandoned
pooches.
-
Hendra,
T. Turf war [cover story].
New York v. 31 no. 19 (May 18 1998) p. 22-5+
ABSTRACT:
Dogs are becoming one of the New York City Parks Department's
biggest physical-management headaches. Frederick Law Olmsted,
who designed Central Park, anticipated that his creation would
attract dogs and promulgated firm regulations regarding leashing.
As well as the damage caused by the animals, the increasing
numbers of dog-owners who refuse to abide by the regulations
have necessitated extra enforcement.
-
Lemov, D.
Pooch politics [dog parks in urban areas].
Governing v. 10 (March 1997) p. 44
ABSTRACT:
In cities across America, dog owners are forming associations,
launching petition drives, and pushing their agenda of pressuring
local parks departments to consider their interests. Above all,
this means making provisions for open areas where dogs can play,
exercise, and socialize off-leash. The creation of so-called
dog parks in various states is discussed.
-
Urban Animal
Management Conferences. http://www.petnet.com.au/uam/uamindex.html
-
Public open
space and dogs: A Design and management guide for open space
professionals and local government. 1995. http://www.petnet.com.au/openspace/frontis.html
-
Murray,
Richard and Penridge, Helen. 1997. Dogs and Cats in the Urban
Environment: a handbook of municipal pet management. 2nd edition.
http://www.petnet.com.au/dcue/TOC.htm
-
Vote Arf
on This One.
Governing Magazine. Oct 2002 p. 16
ABSTRACT:
Claudia Kawiszynska, editor of The Bark, a magazine for dog
owners, discussing recent debates over creation of dog parks
in urban areas: "It's heartening to see so many people
participate in the political system via their dogs."
-
Claudia
Kawczynska. Dog Power. Bark Magazine online: Advocacy: Dog Parks.
http://www.thebark.com/community/advocacy_dogParks/dogParks.html
-
Claudia
Kawczynska. A Doggedly Determined Political Action Plan. Bark
Magazine online: Advocacy: Dog Parks. http://www.thebark.com/community/advocacy_dogParks/dogParks_02.html
-
Mary Battiata.
"Lassie Go Home," Washington Post Magazine, May 30,
1999.
-
The
Case for Space: An Analysis of Off-Leash Recreation Areas in
Los Angeles. Freeplay
-
"Companions
in the Park: Laurel Canyon Dog Park." (1992) Landscape,
Vol. 31, No. 3, pp.16-23.
- Sophia Yin
and Claudia Kawczynska. An Interview with Dr. Nicholas Dodman.
Bark Magazine Ezine. http://www.thebark.com/ezine/living_behavior/behavior.html
Excerpt:
Nicholas Dodman, DVM: The vast majority of dogs do benefit greatly
from having exercise periods. And walking dogs on a leash is not
sufficient exercise. It’s not that they die if they walk
on a leash, just as it’s not that a human being dies in solitary
confinement either. It is just that it is not optimal for their
physiological and psychological well-being. Exercise is good for
us and it is good for a dog. People say to me, "I give my
dog a lot of exercise, I take him for a walk around the block
every day and it is about a mile or a mile and a half." I
say, "Well, I take my eighty-four-year-old mother for a mile
walk around the block, but that doesn’t constitute exercise."
We really need to get heart rate to a certain level, and this
is done by running off-lead.
- Mike Patterson.
Walking the Dog: An Urban Ethnography of Owners and Their Dogs
in the Glebe (Where Can 'Lassie' 'Go'? Territoriality and Contested
Spaces).
Alternate Routes, 2002, Vol.18, pp.5-70
ABSTRACT:
This paper examines the ways in which dogs & their owners
interact in the Glebe, a small upscale neighborhood in the center
of Ottawa, Ontario. Using participant observation & autoethnography,
the paper documents my arrival with my dog in this new neighborhood,
& our adventures, good & bad. Issues such as contested
use of territory, along with an examination of stratified layers
of legislation & local, more personal views on dogs, are combined
to provide a picture of a society in transition & partition,
particularly with regard to public land & park use. Competing
interest groups include cyclists, young families,
seniors, & those who believe dogs should be neither seen nor
heard. The paper shows that dogs are "lightning rods"
for different levels of public opinion, which are manifestly concerned
with animals, but latently more involved with human socialization;
governance of the neighborhood; & allocation of natural resources
in the area. 6 Appendixes, 60 References. Adapted from the source
document.
http://www.carleton.ca/~mpatters/comp1phd-1.doc
- Lilly, J.
Robert; Puckett, Michael B. Social Control and Dogs: A Sociohistorical
Analysis.
Crime & Delinquency, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 123-147, April 1997.
- Robins, Douglas
M.; Sanders, Clinton R.; Cahill, Spencer E. Dogs and their People:
Pet-Facilitated Interaction in a Public Setting.
Journal Of Contemporary Ethnography, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 3-25,
April 1991.
ABSTRACT:
This article reports a case study of dogs' contributions to interaction
and the development of relationships among unacquainted persons.
The study examines dynamics of inclusion among dog owners at a
public park and is based on participant observation of those processes.
That examination reveals that dogs expose their human companions
in public places to encounters with strangers, facilitate interaction
among the previously unacquainted, and help establish trust among
the newly acquainted. It also demonstrates that dogs' participation
in public life is of some importance to their human participants.
- Benjamin
L. Hart; Melissa J. Bain; Lynette A. Hart.Guidelines for establishment
and maintenance of successful off-leash dog exercise areas. 2003
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/Dog_Park/Dog_Park_Management_Guidelines.pdf
- Maya Avrasin.
Cause for Paws: A Look at Pooch-Friendly Parks.
National Recreation and Park Association. Dec 2003.
http://www.nrpa.org/story.cfm?story_id=1819&publicationID=11&departmentid=18
- Project for
Public Spaces. Urban Parks Online. Dogs. http://pps.org/topics/management/dogs/
"One of the hottest issues in parks. Here we've collected
local and national sites on dog parks, dog-management plans, and
strategies to help those on both sides of the dog-run fence."
- Gillette,
Felix. Who Let the Dog Parks Out? Landscape Architecture, vol.94,
no.1, pp.70-74, January 2004.
- Miller, Pat.
The delights of dog parks. Your
Dog: a newsletter for dog owners, vol.10 no.1 January 2004.
EXCERPT:
Many communities have begun to recognize the value of recreational
outlets for residents who own dogs. The proliferation of dog parks
is one happy result of the increased awareness of the important
role our canine companions play in our lives.
<snip>
Our society seems obsessed these days with soccer fields, upscale
playground equipment and bike paths. Given the state of the economy
and bitter competition for limited municipal funds and donation
dollars, why should a community even consider diverting some of
the money to parks for dogs, of all things? The answer is simple
and compelling: These are parks for people to exercise along with
their canine pals and socialize with other like-minded humans.
They have as much right to their piece of the community "park
pie" as anyone else. The benefits are huge, even for people
who don't consider canines a high priority in their own lives.
Here are just a few of the problems a good dog park can address:
(i'll list one to give you an idea of how the article is styled)
High-energy behavior. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Many
canine behavior problems can be resolved simply by providing adequate
exercise. Increasingly - and tragically - new housing developments
prohibit fences that encourage responsible pet ownership and give
canine caretakers a handy place to safely exercise their dogs.
An under-exercised dog's seemingly bottomless reservoir of energy
stresses dogs and owners alike, and threatens the canine-human
relationship. It also jeopardizes the dog's prospects for remaining
in his home for life; owners surrender many of these hapless,
high-energy canines to animal shelters. The cost of caring for
these unwanted animals impacts all members of society.
- Bourbeau, Joanne Dog Parks: Can a place that let's Rover roam help your shelter? Animal Sheltering, May/June 1998 pp.19-21.
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