By Brian J. Lowney
Dog parks are great places for owners and their four-footed friends to let loose, have some fun and enjoy each other’s companionship.
Proponents of these facilities say that just as basketball courts and baseball fields provide players a place to play, dog parks offer recreational venues for people who like dogs.
Local dog trainer and New Bedford resident Ruth Smiler is one of the many advocates of a proposed dog park in the Whaling City. She is a member of the feasibility committee studying the proposal and has visited numerous dog parks throughout the United States.
“New Bedford is very lucky in many ways on this subject,” Ms. Smiler says, adding that the measure has the support of many city officials and local residents.
“That’s pretty unusual,” she says. “New Bedford will have a dog park.”
The respected trainer says what is so unusual about the proposal is that it has already garnered widespread support and the idea doesn’t have to be “sold” to anyone.
“We have an enormous advantage,” Ms. Smiler notes. “We are way ahead of the game.”
There are hundreds of dog parks in the United States and Canada; some are successful while others have failed, she says.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can piggyback on the experience of others, and learn from their mistakes.”
The feasibility committee is charged with examining different models of existing dog parks and determining what type of facility will work best in New Bedford.
The trainer says that there are many different kinds of dog parks. Most have fenced-in yards, some are open to the public and others are privately owned by animal shelters or business owners who charge dog owners a fee to use the facility.
Ms. Smiler says that while she is “100 percent in favor of a dog park in New Bedford,” she is keenly aware of the problems that occur in many of these facilities.
“Success is dependent on a very active, knowledgeable and dedicated group of responsible dog owners,” she attests.
Dogs brought to parks must be socialized with humans and other dogs, and owners should be able to interpret a dog’s body language and be ready to intervene before a problem develops.
“Dog parks are not a place for a dog to be a bully or a victim,” she warns. “It’s important that all dogs be supervised.” She adds that dog owners must employ the same diligence as parents would when they take their children to a city park.
Ms. Smiler says that when a dog park is well maintained and owners comply with the rules, these facilities give a dog “a chance to blow off a lot of energy. It’s a form of recreation for people and their dogs.”
New Bedford Animal Control Director Emanuel Maciel says the proposed dog park “is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Research shows that owners who use dog parks correctly are more responsible and the canines better behaved, he says.
There are 3,800 registered dogs in New Bedford, reports Mr. Maciel, who estimates that there could also be as many as another 3,000 unlicensed canines living in the city.
The animal control director emphasizes that a city dog park should not be “a fly-by-night operation. We want to do it right. We don’t want to make more work for ourselves.”
One way to monitor dog parks is to issue a swipe card, like those offered by supermarkets, to owners who show proof that their dog is vaccinated and licensed. These cards would also help city officials track the number of dog owners using the facility.
“I would love to see this happen,” Mr. Maciel says, adding that he hopes that a city dog park in New Bedford will become a reality within the next two years.
New Bedford resident Paul Cardoza is one of many dog owners who e-mailed members of the feasibility committee to show support for a dog park.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” he said in a telephone interview. “I think it would make a huge difference.”
Mr. Cardoza, who lives in a downtown condo, reports that while he walks his dog Cooper in Buttonwood Park on a leash, he never lets the little dog loose out of concern for traffic and other safety issues. He is also fearful that children playing in the park could provoke the mixed-breed canine, which might result in a dog bite and a lawsuit.
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