Dog parks have numerous benefits for community

Every dog has his day, but does he also need a park? We think so.

Friends of Lynchburg Dog Park Inc. (FLDP), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization formed with encouragement from Lynchburg Humane Society, is working with Department of Parks & Recreation to build a fenced-in, off-leash dog park. Per City Council approval, no taxpayer dollars will be used for building the park, so FLDP is collecting donations for the $35,000 needed.

Having a dog park in Lynchburg provides another outdoor amenity to its citizens, similar to bike paths, soccer fields and tennis courts. According to the Virginia Outdoors Plan, walking for pleasure (often with dogs in tow) is the No. 1 outdoor activity among Virginians. More than a third of all households in Lynchburg own at least one dog, with approximately 15,000 dogs in the city. Yet, there are few public recreation amenities that service dog owners.

Dog parks are for people just as much as they are for dogs and they even benefit citizens who don’t own a dog.

Public off-leash dog parks build a sense of community and camaraderie among all types of people — this helps build a safer neighborhood.

The city currently has a leash law that has become increasingly difficult to enforce. As urban development grows, free space is becoming a scarce commodity, even in Lynchburg. Having a fenced-in, off-leash dog park encourages people to take their dogs there for safe, secure, and legal, romping — rather than letting their dogs roam freely in neighborhoods or other park areas.

- Dog parks also offer dog owners fewer excuses for not adequately exercising their dogs.

A well-exercised dog is a happy dog; a happy dog equates to a happy dog owner. A happy owner is one who’s less likely to give up their pet to a local animal shelter.

- They are an ideal place to socialize dogs with other canines and humans. Most dogs are less aggressive when off-leash than on-leash. Additionally, well-socialized dogs are less prone to aggression, which leads to fewer cases of dog bites.

- They offer an excellent venue to socialize and exercise dogs from local animal shelters and showcase their adoptable dogs to the public, helping to improve adoption rates.

- They are a wonderful place for senior citizens and the physically disabled to easily exercise their dogs, and we hope, encourage more of them to hold on to their cherished pet.

- They can also be used in a number of ways as a venue: for canine behavioral and obedience training sessions with area dog trainers; educating the public on responsible dog ownership; hosting adoption fairs featuring local shelters; private doggie birthday parties; and, depending on the sophistication of the park, agility and dog-related events.

The Lynchburg dog park would be separated into large and small dog areas, with clearly posted rules. Dogs must be licensed, tagged, vaccinated and free from contagious disease.

People must pick up after their pet. Only dogs older than four months of age, not in heat, and that are well-socialized with other dogs and humans would be allowed.

There are more than 700 off-leash dog parks in the United States, and overwhelmingly they work. Dog fights and dog bites happen, but are rare. A more pervasive problem is people not always picking up after their pet, but even that can be addressed with peer pressure and self-policing among park users.

Dog parks are only as successful as the common sense, level of responsibility, and judgment of their human users. The organizers of FLDP believe that if dog parks have worked in other cities, they can work in Lynchburg.

For more information on the dog park, for park rules, or to donate, please visit www.lynchburgdogpark.com. Rasanayagam is treasurer of FLDP and a volunteer with the Lynchburg Humane Society.