Off-leash and loving it

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Exercise is essential for dogs' happiness and health, and thanks to parks just for them, the animals have the room they need to runBy Larissa Van Beurden-Doust The Tribune California

Dogs in San Luis Obispo County are having a harder time exercising because of stringent leash laws, an aging human population and increasingly smaller back yards.

To keep their pooches from getting flabby, depressed and angry, local dog owners have worked with officials to build dog parks around the county -- starting a trend many say will continue.
"Do I see it cropping up elsewhere? Absolutely," said Paula O'Farrell of Parks-4-Pups, which oversaw the recent building of a dog park in Atascadero. "I think dog owners will demand it."

Five dog parks have opened in the county within the past four years. The first opened at El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo in October 2001. The most recent was the Atascadero park, at Heilmann Regional Park, last spring. There also are parks in Nipomo and Cambria, and at Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo.

Dog parks are fenced-in areas where it's OK for dogs to be off-leash. There are water fountains just for pups and benches for their humans. Some have separate areas for large and small dogs.
Some parks -- such as Laguna Lake -- are just specified areas for dogs to be off-leash, though there is no fencing. Dogs must be in voice control of their owners at all times.

Benefits for dogs, humans

Dog owners and veterinarians say having off-leash exercise time is essential for the animals.

"When they're off-leash, the dog's personality is totally different," said John Heller of Cambria, who takes his dogs to the local park.
Socializing also makes otherwise lazy dogs exercise.
"My two bassets, they are not known for running around," Heller said. "But when you get them over there, they'll start running. It's really good fun."

Before the park opened, he took his dogs to the East West Ranch in Cambria. But fearing they would take off if they smelled something intriguing, he always kept them on a leash.

"We don't dare take them off-leash in (someplace) that's large," Heller said. "Find a scent, and see you later."

Aging baby boomers -- many of whom are retiring to San Luis Obispo County -- are finding it difficult to walk the pets they adore, said Heller's wife, Joyce. The park allows the dogs to run without straining their owners.

Even people with lots of land -- O'Farrell owns 20 acres off Highway 46 West -- use the park for socializing.

Official parks also benefit people who don't like dogs, said county Animal Services manager Eric Anderson.

Dogs are confined to the area, instead of running around bothering other people, he said. Parks also provide the ability to regulate and monitor the animals.

Unofficial parks

There are unofficial dog gathering areas around the county -- which can irritate neighbors and people who don't own dogs.

Grover Beach recently looked at turning Costa Bella Park, at Oak Park Boulevard and Farroll Road, into an official dog park. South County residents have been gathering there unofficially and letting their dogs run off-leash.

After an extensive study, the city decided not to turn that parcel into a dog park. It found that it would cost $33,000 to convert the park and an additional $6,000 annually to maintain it. Neighbors said in a survey that the park was littered with feces and they didn't want their tax dollars to pay for it.

Dogs are still allowed in the park -- as they are in nearly all parks around the county -- as long as they're on a leash. There are even plastic bags available for owners to pick up after the animals.

While county Animal Services has had to stop by Costa Bella Park to remind people of leash laws, there haven't been many problems with official dog parks, Anderson said.

"It generally seems at approved dog parks, the people that use them police themselves," Anderson said.
Even more room to run?

Dog parks do best in either large regional parks or rural areas, officials said.

It also helps if taxpayers don't have to shell out to build them. The five dog parks in the county were built with donations. Groups held fundraisers, and volunteers built the parks.

While most other cities in the county do not have plans for an official dog park, some -- including Grover Beach -- would be open to the idea if there were appropriate space and funding.

Morro Bay even issued a permit to a local group to meet at Del Mar Park at certain times with its members' dogs off-leash, said Andrea Lueker, recreation and parks director.

"The city has been working on finding an area for a permanent off-leash park," Lueker said.