Photo Credit: Clarence Thomas, JR.
Fido wants to play, so you oblige by taking her for a walk. After tossing the Frisbee for a while, you let her run on a dirt trail through the beautiful yard you perfected during the dog days of summer. And still your pooch looks at you afterwards with a sad face that you interpret as … “More play time, pleeease!” You are out of breath--and options--until you remember … the dog park.
This destination for people and their pets serves as an additional way for dog owners to keep their canines healthy and well adjusted. Experts like Elizabeth Barker--a veterinarian technician at Greenwood Farms Veterinary Clinic in Macon, Ga.--swears by dog parks, and uses her hometown’s designated green space in the city’s west-central district as a venue to train and rehabilitate the dogs in need at her workplace. Barker describes dog parks as a convenient, neutral space that introduces dog owners to an alternative place for their pets to run and play. “Dog parks provide stimulation and afford the animal and owner a chance to bond beyond their daily routine,” she explains.
On a sunny fall day, Barker’s statement resonated loudly as a woman who referred to herself only as Heidi and her 6-year-old Boston terrier named Terrence took full advantage of the opportunity to get out and about in the overtly Fido-friendly environment. She and her “guy” have been frequenting this spot for the last five years, and Heidi says a day at the dog park is a much better way of expressing love, respect, and appreciation for a pet than the ongoing confines of a small backyard, the inside of a house, or the end of a rope or chain. “People who bring their dogs here obviously care about their pets. I bring him here every week,” she says. “And it’s nice and relaxing for me.”