According to recent studies, over a third of all U.S. households have one or more dogs. Armed with this fact, community parks and recreation departments are becoming more likely to include dog parks than amenities such as splash play areas or golf courses. When making plans for your parks, it's important to weigh the benefits of community dog parks and the positive effect they can have on your community or neighborhood.
What are the top 4 benefits of dog parks?
- Socialization: Dogs are social animals and need to interact with other dogs to develop social skills. Dog parks provide a safe and controlled environment for dogs to meet and play with other dogs.
- Community Building: Dog parks can help bring together dog owners and create a sense of community. It's a great place to meet other dog owners and share tips and advice about dog care. While the dogs are playing, community members are more likely to form relationships, participate in conversation, and exchange community information such as events, doctors, and veterinarians.
- Safety: As leash laws continue to become increasingly restrictive, many public leadership committees are seeing dog parks as a way to let dogs run free without penalty to pet owners or damage to private property.
- Exercise: Public dog parks allow dogs to get ample off-leash exercise and social activity with other dogs. Dog parks provide a large, open space for dogs to run, play and get exercise. Regular exercise is essential for a dog's physical and mental well-being. When dogs get the adequate physical and mental exercise they need, owners notice a decrease in the level of bad behavior from their dogs.
With a dog park, you'll have healthier pets and people as they help to improve the quality of life in your town or neighborhood. Keep these benefits in mind as you plan the future of your park's facilities.
References:
https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/culture/how-cities-may-benefit-from-dog-parks
https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01490400.2014.888020
https://apdt.com/resource-center/dog-park-pros-cons/
