Dog Park...Do we really need it?

I know I’m going to take a lot of heat regarding the feel-good and fuzzy issue of the so called Stratford municipal dog park, but there are a number of issues that should be addressed regarding public and animal safety, liability questions, and usage of this park. I’ll start with the most obvious issue, at least to me, in that Stratford has both a leash law (ordinance) in place since the early 1990’s, and a pooper scooper ordinance. I know this because with the assistance of a local attorney, we put these laws together and had them approved by the Town Council. Under the leash law, “ any dog owner who takes their dog off their property must have their dog on a maximum 6 ft. leash, and attended by someone 18 years or older.” To have dogs running around, on Town property, without a leash, would be a violation of that ordinance. They must also remove any fecal matter left by their dogs. Do we just make an exception to these ordinances and if we do, we need to rewrite them to include that exception. The Town, by actually allowing people to let their dogs roam free on Town property, would be subject to any civil action for any injuries caused by these dogs to either people or other dogs. Will this area be designated for Town residents only or will it be open to residents from other towns? Who will be checking these dogs for licenses and health certificates, animal control officers? With various dogs defecating on this property, what is to prevent others dogs from contracting various canine diseases that are transferred through fecal contact? Do you think knowledgeable dog owners would bring their dogs to such a place? What if the little, old lady, with the Yorkie meets Mr. Macho man with his pit bull or rottie who he has trained to be aggressive? With both dogs untethered, at least one dog will probably be killed and one or both owners could wind up injured from dog bites. What if someone brings their female dog, which is in “heat” to the park, and there are a number of male dogs there? Those male dogs will probably end up fighting with each other over the female. If you ride through Beardsley Park on a Sunday afternoon, you will see groups of men in a large circle, with their pit bulls, allowing their dogs to “spar” with each other. What if these dogs were brought to Stratford? As I said this is a simple, feel good idea but has any one besides me thought about the unintended consequences that will probably arise from this endeavor. As a professional, take my advice, walk your dog on a leash in your neighborhood were you know the neighborhood dogs. If your yard is enclosed, let your dog run around your yard for a couple of hours a day. Dogs are “man’s best friend” and vice versa. They don’t need to socialize with other dogs to live a happy life. We Americans tend to give our dogs human characteristics beyond what is actual fact. Our male dogs don’t need to hang out at the park with their buddies (other dogs) drinking beer and checking out the “bitches” They need to be with us. It doesn't matter to them where we hang out.
M. H. Griffin- Chief Municipal Animal Control Officer (Ret.)