Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Here's another perspective on the dog park for you non-dog owners: Peachtree City supports and maintains parks and cart paths for enjoyment of our citizens and their value to the city.

Now, not everyone uses the playgrounds, the docks, the skate park, the pools, the roller hockey rink or even the cart paths. But all those amenities sure add to the value of our community.

I think if you ask a local Realtor, they would agree a dog park would be a very attractive amenity to a dog-owning family. Not everyone will use the dog park, but many will!

Before I owned a dog, I would have scoffed at someone talking about socializing dogs or building dogs their own park, but listen:

The reason an owner should socialize a dog is to allow it to learn to be well-behaved and friendly towards people, children and other pets. I think even non-dog owners would see the value in that. Dogs learn to socialize just like people do: by being around others.

Walking a dog on a leash on the cart path is a good idea. However, just like we take our children out to the playground to burn off energy and run (especially when they're getting hyper), dogs need the same outlet. A dog without an outlet to play or exercise becomes destructive: chewing (things they shouldn't, like furniture), excessive barking (does one live near you?), aggression.

Even if you don't own a dog, how many houses away from you does a dog live? If he gets out and roams the neighborhood, wouldn't you want it to be "socialized"?

Now, can you who oppose the dog park please stop with the insults?

Cindy Allen

Peachtree City

Member of the Dog Park Committee