Running wild
Dog parks a treat for pets and their owners

Several times a week, dog owners ask me "Is there any place in the city where I can take my dog off-leash and let it run?" Unfortunately, I have to tell them that it is against city ordinance for dog owners to allow their dogs to be off-leash when not on their own property. If dog owners do allow their pets to run loose, they could be cited and charged with a Class C misdemeanor. I also remind them that it is dangerous to allow dogs to run free in area parks or schoolyards, not only for the dogs, but also for other people and animals as well.
So, what is a responsible dog owner to do? Does he grant his pet the opportunity for a good run and break the law, or must he limit the exercise his four-legged buddies need and deserve? There could be another option. A dog park.
What is a dog park? It is a place where people and their dogs can play together in a safe place without breaking the law. Also, these parks offer dogs off-leash play areas while their people enjoy the park-like setting. Amenities such as fencing, water, parking and even grass vary greatly among these places, but "off-leash" and "park" are the key elements that dog owners, ummm, taxpayers, ummm, voters desire. Several cities throughout the country have given their citizens what they want. So far, more than 550 dog parks have been established nationwide.
For some dog owners, a dog park may provide a refreshing opportunity for them to socialize with other people and their dogs. One such person is Dr. Mark Suggs, M.D. Suggs, who divides his busy ophthalmology practice between Wichita Falls and Dallas, feels that a dog park for Wichita Falls would be just what the doctor ordered. When he travels to Dallas he takes his bull terrier, Lewis, with him. When Suggs comes home from work, Lewis meets him at the door with leash in mouth. Lewis knows it is time to go to the city of Dallas' White Rock Lake Dog Park. Here, Suggs and Lewis can unwind after a long day.
Suggs said that he recognizes a new group of park users: dogs and their owners. The doctor said that this user group is drawn to parks for open space, fresh air, exercise and socialization for themselves and their pets. According to Suggs, "Coming to a park is their chosen form of recreation, much the same as jogging or biking. They are legitimate park users."
An administrator at the Parks and Recreation Department recently asked me why it is important to have a dog park in a city the size of Wichita Falls. I offered that dogs need room to run, and enclosed play areas permit them to do so without endangering themselves and others. In addition, I told him that dogs accustomed to playing with other animals and people are more likely to be well socialized and to react properly toward strangers. Dog parks are a great place for owners to meet other people with common interests. The love people share for their dogs reaches beyond economic and social barriers and helps to foster a sense of community. Park users also benefit from asking questions of other owners and finding solutions to their own pet problems
Other cities, such as Dallas and Austin, have found that having dog parks promotes responsible dog ownership. Dog parks prevent off-leash animals from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be fearful of dogs. Parks also make it easier for a city to enforce its leash laws, since resident dog owners with park access have no reason to allow their canine companions off-leash when outside of the park. Well-exercised dogs are better neighbors who are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively and destroy property. Their presence in the park, along with their owners, also helps to deter crime.
Don't think that when this type of canine recreation area is established that it is a "walk in the park." As responsible dog owners, users would be required to follow certain rules to make a dog park successful. Recently I visited The Dog Park at White Rock Lake in Dallas. There I met with some of the Dog Park Association members and learned about their park. Here are a few of the rules that they have established for their 1.5-acre dog park:

• Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by them.
• Puppies and dogs must be properly licensed, inoculated and healthy.
• Animals should wear a collar and ID tags at all times.
• Owners must clean up after their dogs.
• Dogs showing aggression toward people or other animals will be removed from the park. Animals who exhibit a history of aggressive behavior will not be permitted.
• Puppies using the park must be at least 4 months old.
• Owners should not leave their dogs unattended nor out of sight. If young children are permitted in the dog park, they must be under constant supervision.
• Female dogs in heat will not be allowed inside the park.
• Owners must carry a leash at all times. Dogs should be leashed before entering and prior to leaving the park.
• Violators will be subject to removal from the park and suspension of park privileges.

How can you help? There is a grass roots movement in Wichita Falls to make this dream become a reality. The Wichita Falls Dog Park Association is in the formative stages. If you are interested in becoming a member, please call (940) 689-9247 and leave your name and telephone number. The association will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 14, at the Petco Community Center. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please call your city councilman or park administrator and express your desire to have an area of an existing park set aside for a dog park.
Some people might say that having a dog park would be a waste of money. To answer them I would like to borrow a line from the movie "Field of Dreams," "Build it and they will come."
FYI: If you're looking for immediate and individual answers to your animal questions, be sure to tune in to KLUR 99.9 FM at 9 a.m. every Tuesday to listen to "Dr. Joe and The Dog Man." Veterinarian Dr. Joe Wurster and I will be happy to take your calls.