Positive Points of Having a Fenced-in Dog Park
- Over an acre of fenced area to exercise your dog off-leash, because a tired dog is a good dog.
- Opportunity to spend time outdoors and socialize with fellow dog owners and dogs.
- Safe environment to socialize your dog around other dogs and humans, which studies have shown decrease the frequency of dog bites, barking, and other anti-social dog behaviors.
- Double-entry gates so your dog can't escape.
- More responsible pet ownership and less dog waste in public places.
- Raised awareness for the humane treatment of animals.
- And of course, free admission!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q; Is your group a 501(c)(3)?
A: Yes. As of August 2014.
Q: Who cleans up after the dogs?
A: You do! Sometimes a few will get missed in which case another user of the park will get the strays. It is important to be vocal while in the dog park, letting fellow owners know to pickup after their pooches and abide by the rules of the dog park.
Q: Are there rules in a dog park?
A: Yes. Rules are posted at the entrance to the park. Some of these rules include, but are not limited to: clean up after your dog, never leave your dog unattended, each dog must be current on all vaccinations, and aggressive dogs and puppies less than four months are not allowed.
Q: Who enforces the rules?
A: It will be up to each and every canine owner at the park to enforce the rules. Being vocal is essential.
Q: It's a great idea, but who's going to pay for it?
A: You and I. Through donations and fundraisers, the Gillette Dog Owners Group has raised enough funds to build The O-SO Fun Dog Park at the corner of E Warlow & Hannum (opening date of Aug, 29th, 2015). We became a non-profit group in May of 2012, and became recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as of August 05, 2014. Donations are tax deductible. We will continue to have fundraisers and seek donations to help with costs of maintenance and improvements within the park. We are currently seeking to raise monies towards water, landscaping, and agility equipment for the park. You can donate through paypal anytime!
Q: What if a dog owner or dog gets bit?
A: The owners of dogs known to be aggressive will likely opt never to come to a dog park, since an aggressive dog is a liability to its owner. A rules sign is posted at the entrance declaring park goers use the facility at their own risk, so a responsibility lies with those at the park to keep a close eye on any bad dog behavior. Those who violate the rules will be banished. Luckily these problems rarely arise, but when they do it is up to those in attendance to speak up.
Q: Should I be hesitant to bring my pooch to a dog park?
A: If you know your dog has pre-existing problems getting along with other dogs then you should not bring them. If you are unsure, many first-timers bring their dog during non-peak hours to see how they react in the environment. The beauty of a dog park is that it is a neutral territory. The first few minutes might be spent getting sniffed by other canines, but after that it's smooth sailing!
Q: Can my dog contract diseases from other dogs?
A: Dog owners will be expected to bring healthy dogs that are current on all vaccinations. Owners should not bring puppies under four months, or older dogs with weaker immune systems to the park. Just like a school setting or any other public place, dogs will be exposed to pathogens that aren't normally present within the confines of their own homes, but by being introduced into a newer environment may help build antibodies.
Q: Are dog parks noisy?
A: Once in awhile a dog or two will bark. As for non-stop barking? Never.
For questions not covered here, Bark at Us!
A: Yes. As of August 2014.
Q: Who cleans up after the dogs?
A: You do! Sometimes a few will get missed in which case another user of the park will get the strays. It is important to be vocal while in the dog park, letting fellow owners know to pickup after their pooches and abide by the rules of the dog park.
Q: Are there rules in a dog park?
A: Yes. Rules are posted at the entrance to the park. Some of these rules include, but are not limited to: clean up after your dog, never leave your dog unattended, each dog must be current on all vaccinations, and aggressive dogs and puppies less than four months are not allowed.
Q: Who enforces the rules?
A: It will be up to each and every canine owner at the park to enforce the rules. Being vocal is essential.
Q: It's a great idea, but who's going to pay for it?
A: You and I. Through donations and fundraisers, the Gillette Dog Owners Group has raised enough funds to build The O-SO Fun Dog Park at the corner of E Warlow & Hannum (opening date of Aug, 29th, 2015). We became a non-profit group in May of 2012, and became recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as of August 05, 2014. Donations are tax deductible. We will continue to have fundraisers and seek donations to help with costs of maintenance and improvements within the park. We are currently seeking to raise monies towards water, landscaping, and agility equipment for the park. You can donate through paypal anytime!
Q: What if a dog owner or dog gets bit?
A: The owners of dogs known to be aggressive will likely opt never to come to a dog park, since an aggressive dog is a liability to its owner. A rules sign is posted at the entrance declaring park goers use the facility at their own risk, so a responsibility lies with those at the park to keep a close eye on any bad dog behavior. Those who violate the rules will be banished. Luckily these problems rarely arise, but when they do it is up to those in attendance to speak up.
Q: Should I be hesitant to bring my pooch to a dog park?
A: If you know your dog has pre-existing problems getting along with other dogs then you should not bring them. If you are unsure, many first-timers bring their dog during non-peak hours to see how they react in the environment. The beauty of a dog park is that it is a neutral territory. The first few minutes might be spent getting sniffed by other canines, but after that it's smooth sailing!
Q: Can my dog contract diseases from other dogs?
A: Dog owners will be expected to bring healthy dogs that are current on all vaccinations. Owners should not bring puppies under four months, or older dogs with weaker immune systems to the park. Just like a school setting or any other public place, dogs will be exposed to pathogens that aren't normally present within the confines of their own homes, but by being introduced into a newer environment may help build antibodies.
Q: Are dog parks noisy?
A: Once in awhile a dog or two will bark. As for non-stop barking? Never.
For questions not covered here, Bark at Us!
Facts and Data
- In nature dogs were pack animals and the need for domesticated breeds to interact with other members of its species remains a part of their nature (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 2006). Leashes prohibit this kind of interaction, and can even exacerbate anti-social behaviors.
- Most authorities on pet behavior contend that dogs require an outlet for their energy in order to alleviate boredom and reduce destructive behavior. Play and exercise are not only important for the dog’s physical needs, but these physical outlets also help to cement the human-dog bond (Animal Planet, 2006).
- Approximately 7,353 dogs exist within Gillette, which equates to 4,328 households owning a dog (American Veterinary Medical Association).
- It would cost each citizen of Gillette less than 17 cents per year to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of a dog park!
- An estimated 32.4 percent of Gillette households have at least one dog. This is 8 percent above the national average.
- An estimated 11.8 percent of Gillette households have at least two dogs. This is 8 percent above the national average.
Data Available for Download
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