Two Words - Seven Letters....

[4Dogs]

.....D O G P A R K!

I now have my own bad experience to share!

So as part of my therapy for Charlie to help him settle in and stop his freakoid barking I've been excercising him non-stop. We hiked for a total of 5 1/2 hours two days ago between the walks in the neighborhood and a huge plod through a state park. Yesterday was a repeat but we were down to about 4 hours of walking and today... well, today my twins needed dropped at the county park for a day of soccer training. They had to be there by 8:00 am so I took the three small dogs and headed out.

I figured after I dropped the kids I would take the pups over to the dog park and if it was empty I would do a little excercising and training with the three. I've done this before with my big dogs and found it was successful to work recall etc..

One of Charlie's phobia's is being outside in the back garden without his leash on. I wanted to see what he'd do without the back door to attach himself to and I wanted to also put the girls through their recall and sit/stay command in an unfamiliar surround. I was NOT going to go in if there was anyone there - or stay if anyone came. No one was there and no one came - so that part is fine.

I've never actually used this particular dog park before but have driven by a few times. It's relatively new - no shade - some grass - lots of gravel. Large dog and small dog runs. Number one - small dog run is for dogs 35 lbs and under. I think 35 lbs is a good sized dog and don't really consider them small - but that is JMHO.

Well - things go well. I get the dogs all in and Charlie seems relaxed. I let them off the leash and the first thing I always do is walk a perimeter of a park with my dogs. This helps burn the initial energy level of the dogs AND helps me check for any hidden dangers! (Note to self: Admirable thought but do this with dogs on leash!)

So we walk Charlie almost makes it to the third corner of the square but appears to suddenly realize he is away from the gate and runs back to glue himself to the gate. Ok no problem. As we turn this third corner I make note of the fact that the park is not actually secure. I'd noted that the chain fence was not dug in when I arrived but here on the third corner the fence had visible gaps between it and the ground. Not large enough for a 35 lb dog but certainly for a big enough for a standard yorkie to get through.

We keep walking and the girls do as they always do and stay at my feet. We walk back to Charlie and I decide that I want to do one more lap just to see if Charlie will come away the gate. He does and follows me and I keep walking around as he is staying with me... we pass the third turn and the little guy is still with me. "Yeah" and I bend down to give him a treat and a rub.

... But then I realize that Ruby has slipped through the fence! She didn't run. She just sat on the opposite side of the fence with her back to me and about 8 inches away from the fence. I call her - no response. I show her a treat (actually show her back) - no response. I can't understand why....and a split second later I find out!

Roxy starts to growl and look through the fence past Ruby... there sitting about 15 feet away is a large groundhog -my guess is that he was 15 lbs easy! I Panic! Besides snakes and frogs there is nothing that I am more afraid of than a groundhog (OK - add mice/rats to that too!) Ruby isn't moving - she isn't making a sound (AND THANK GOD CHARLIE DIDN'T BARK!) I could not jump that fence to get my pup. Ok - I had a skirt and sandals on but the real reason was I was shaking with fear!

Somehow I was able to get my fingers through the openings of the fence and by leaning my body against the fence push it slightly forward and get Ruby's tag between my fingers and pull her just enough to be able to loop my fingers through the harness. She was too far from the little opening in the fence to get her back through so I had to attach her leash and walk the leash up through the openings until it hung freely down the outside of the fence and I could air-lift her back up and behind the fence. (Man when I write this it looks like all was so calm - it wasn't I was crying and very upset and Ruby didn't blink an eye!)

The dang GH began to meander down the length of the fence and never took his eyes off us. I quickly attached the leashes on the other two and high tailed it to the gate... and it was only then that I realized I had to come out from the safety of the fenced area to get to my car and that monster was sitting between my and my car!

Some how I was able to safely carry the three pups and RUN to the car. I have never been so glad that I left something unlocked as I was today.

When I got in my car and actually looked over by the big dog park (at this park the big dog and small dog runs are separate and share no common fence) I noticed that the far side just outside the fence has a number of GH burrow entrances.

I am really upset to think that the county posts a big notice at the entrance to the dog park about all the things dog owners are responsible for but they fail to mention that the secure area I believe I am entering is not even reasonably secure AND is as close as it is to wildlife! Am I crazy to expect more?

Sorry this is so long but I needed to vent!

I won't be going there again.

[Rae Rae]

Is the dogpark by a nature area or forest preserve? If so, theres going to be wildlife. I would call and complain about the fence, regaurdless if you go back there or not. Others may not notice the gap and their dogs might get out. The park needs to get that fixed ASAP

[4Dogs]

No - it is right in the middle of soccer and baseball fields (I mean right in between!) with the main park road on one side and another road to other playing fields on the other. There is not a nature area or preserve at this park - it's all active recreation. The fence I have to complain about - the animal (and it could have been a bunny and then I would have been ok) is to be understandable - except it appears that these groundhogs are living almost in the dog park. The fence on the runs is only 4 feet at this park and I know that other dogs I've owned in the past would have been over the fence in a heartbeat to get to this animal.

Personally, I think it would be kinder to the groundhogs to rehome them - or to have planned the placement of the dog park in an area where groundhogs weren't living. (it's a new dog park in a long established rec area.)

[Rae Rae]

Yeah definitly call, and voice your concerns about the hight of the fence. You said it's 4ft?!?!?! That's way too low. Atleast 6ft, if not higher. As for the groundhogs, are they mean animals? I've never encountered one really.

[yorkieusa]

Oh, wow! I would have been scared to death, too. It is hard to believe that they could be so negligent as to not even make the bottom of the fence secured to the ground. I would either call or write the commissioners about the problems you encountered and I wouldn't fail to mention the groundhog burrows and the groundhog himself!

[4Dogs]

Originally Posted by Rae Rae

As for the groundhogs, are they mean animals? I've never encountered one really.

Naturally - no. Provoked - yes! They have sharp claws and nasty bites and will bravely fight (ususally to their death with a larger dog.) My phoebia of groundhogs is because of some very bad encounters with both dogs and rabid groundhogs. Most dogs will look upon a groundhog as prey. It seems poor management to "allow" a groundhog(s) to live within 15 feet of a dog park. It just is asking for trouble. My numbers might be off but I am pretty sure that over 50% of all wildlife with rabies in our county over the last 20+ years has been found in GH's - followed I believe by shunks.

[Kathryn_V]

I've never even seen one... Are they big???

The hole in the fence is enough for me to have flipped out!!! Had anything happened to your baby!!! Ugh!!! There would have been heck to pay had it been me.... I'd have driven straight to the city office with all three of my dogs in tow!!! They need to shut the park down untill they can make it a safe place to have your dogs!