I think I finally understand why fencing in a three acre section of one of the parks around here has taken years, and costs so much. It was supposed to have been built and opened last year. Ground has still not been broken on it. The powers that be want it to be safe, secure, etc. That entails more than a fence with a gate. Or, so they tell me.
Yes, it’s going to be on county land, and the township had to see the plans before it would issue a building permit for it. But, do we really need benches, water fountains, agility courses, three separate areas for big dogs, small dogs, and a provisional rotational area in case the others get their turf too trampled, and an electronic entrance gate, for which the only way to obtain a “key” is by paying an annual “registration fee” that would buy a week’s worth of groceries for two people? By the time they are done, my front yard is going to be bigger than the dog run sectioned off for the big dogs.
I’m sorry, but I simply don’t understand why the plans for this place are so elaborate. Honest to god, I think that if I were to ring up someone on the planning committee to suggest they add a gatehouse that they could rent out for parties, they’d take me seriously. Do we really need this? I had been looking forward to an off-leash place to let my dog run and catch frisbees, but the more I learn about it, the less I like it. It cost me less to get my dog a “lifetime” license and tag than this place will cost per year to use. The dog license is required by law; this dog park fee is only required for those who want to use the dog run. For my money — and property taxes aren’t inexpensive here — I’ll take my dog to any one of the other dozen parks around here, for free. He’s plenty happy with hiking trails through the woods. There are leash and pooper scooper laws that are already on the books whenever you take your dog off your own property. We obey those. Hey, I don’t want to step in dog shit any more than a non-dog-owner does. We have a “drop zone” on our own hillside for that, anyway.
Yeah, that is way overkill, and they probably wouldn’t get enough people to registered in order to earn back what they put in. Nah, people will just take their dogs to other parks/trails for free.
I let Pedro off his leash at the waterfront, just as long as I don’t see other dogs in the area. Where we take him there’s not a lot of people walking around anyway. He likes to think he’s chasing rabbits. Half the time he completely misses the one that’s standing still right next to him. (He’s such a dummy!)