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Tips for Safe and Happy Dog Park Use
TIPS FOR PARK USE: REMINDER TO PARENTS
TINY CHILDREN
Be aware that little children may be vulnerable in the park. Running dogs may inadvertently knock a small child over. Friendly dogs may lick the face of a baby in a carrier or stroller. Curious dogs may jump up to greet a babe in arms. Remember, it’s a dog park.
CHILDREN RUNNING
Children can get very excited running in the park. Trouble is, so can dogs. And the combination of excited children running with excited dogs can lead to trouble. Please calm overexcited children, leash overexcited dogs, and keep everyone out of trouble.
CHILDREN EATING
Dogs love people food. And if children are eating in the dog park, that food is just too temptingly close to dog level. Even if your dog knows not to snatch food from children, someone else’s dog may not. Protect your child’s face and fingers—discourage him or her from eating around dogs in the park.
TIPS FOR PARK USE: KENNEL COUGH
WHAT IS IT?
Kennel cough is a minor viral infection, with cough, nasal discharge, and general malaise (sound familiar? It’s not much different from a human cold). It’s self-limiting, meaning it will go away by itself in about 14 days. Infection with the virus may cause more serious illness in puppies. Because the virus aerosolizes (is suspended in air), your dog can catch it anywhere, even walking down the street, and particularly when in contact with many other dogs.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT IT?
If your dog is under the weather and showing the symptoms of kennel cough, please keep him or her at home. Of course, you may not know your dog is coming down with it, just as people may be infectious before actually feeling sick. Because this virus is very infectious, kennels routinely require vaccination of dogs being kenneled. If your dog isn’t already vaccinated, you may want to consider it. (Note that the vaccine needs a week to take effect and may not offer complete protection.)
TIPS FOR PARK USE: DRINKING WATER
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK (at least not what you or I would care to drink!)
All that running around makes dogs very thirsty and they will seek water wherever they can find it. Mother Nature has provided a bountiful amount of water recently, but it gets very dirty very quickly. You’ve noticed…
Some of our park users bring drinking water for shared use, but it often is not enough for all our thirsty dogs. It would be appreciated by dogs and owners if everyone would remember to bring a container of water fairly frequently. Sharing the responsibility will take the pressure off the faithful few.
Smoking is not permitted in the dog park (see Rules).
The effects of cigarette smoking on humans have been well-documented, but did you know that tobacco products can be fatal to domestic canines, felines and birds if ingested? Signs of nicotine poisoning often develop within 15 to 45 minutes, reports Jill A. Richardson, DVM, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), and can include excitation, salivation, panting, vomiting and diarrhea. More advanced signs include muscle weakness, twitching, depression, collapse, coma, increased heart rate and cardiac arrest; death can occur secondary to respiratory paralysis. Adds Richardson, "It's more common for a dog than a cat to eat cigarettes, but amazingly, pet birds often chew on them, too."
If you or any of your family members smoke, please be sure to keep cigarettes and cigars out of your pet's reach; the same applies to the nicotine patches and gum often prescribed to stop smoking. And keep in mind that butts contain about 25 percent of the total nicotine content of a cigarette, so dump those ashtrays frequently.
In addition to offering information at <http://www.aspca.org/>APCC online, the Center runs an emergency hotline--1-888-4-ANI-HELP--that provides round-the-clock telephone assistance.
Thank you for not smoking in the dog park.
TIPS FOR PARK USE: BAGS FOR PICKUP
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
The brown Dogipot bags in the dispensers are here courtesy of the Hamden Responsible Dog Owners’ Group. That is, they are provided by users of the park. They are NOT paid for by your taxes, but through fundraising events organized by Hamden R-DOG.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Each bag costs about 3.5¢. This may not seem like much, but during the first two months of park use, 5000 bags were loaded into the dispensers.HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE THE EXPENSE?
If you are a regular park visitor, please bring your own plastic bags for pickup. Leave the dispenser bags for first time visitors and for emergencies (we all know these can happen!). And don’t take a supply home.
TIPS FOR PARK USE: SNOW AND ICE
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEARING IT?
The Town of Hamden will plough and sand the parking lot. However, the Hamden Responsible Dog Owners’ Group has pledged to make sure routine maintenance within the park is done by the park users.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, HAMDEN R-DOG?
We are dog owners and park users just as you are, young and old, male and female, families and singles. You meet us here every day. We are on the front line for purposes of communicating with town officials, planning additional features for the park, and fund-raising. But even if you are not an active member, as a regular park user you can contribute by helping out with maintenance.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Snow shovels have been provided. Sand is in a bin. Please take a minute to shovel snow or spread sand on icy patches in the entrance.
TIPS FOR PARK USE: DOG INJURY/AGGRESSION
IF YOUR DOG INJURES ANOTHER
It can happen. Your dog gets into a fight and the other dog gets hurt. You are responsible for damage done by your animal. Immediately restrain your dog. You should give the owner of the injured animal your name and contact information so that you
can pay the veterinarian’s bill. You should also provide information about your dog’s rabies vaccination status. Then you should
remove your dog from the park. You will have to decide whether this was an isolated incident, or whether it would be wise not to bring him/her back to the park another time.
IF YOUR DOG IS INJURED BY ANOTHER
Ask the owner of the other dog to restrain the dog. Ask the owner to provide his/her name and contact information and his/her dog’s rabies vaccination status in case your dog needs veterinary attention. Ask the owner to remove his/her dog from the park.
WHAT TO DO IF THE OWNER OF AN AGGRESSIVE DOG WILL NOT COOPERATE?
There is a difference between rough play and true aggression.
The park rules state that aggressive dogs are not allowed in the park. If you and other park users agree that a dog is making other dogs and people uncomfortable by behaving in an unacceptably aggressive manner but the owner disagrees and refuses to restrain his/her dog, you may wish to call the police (230-4000).
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP OUR PARK A SAFE, CLEAN, AND HAPPY PLACE!
Improving the quality of life in our town
Hamden R-DOG is a committee of Hamden Community Playground, Inc