Chicago Tribune Article on Dog Parks
This story was sent to you by: jack herbon Here is that article. -------------------- Dog park violence on the rise -------------------- By Lisa Black Tribune staff reporter March 27, 2007, 8:36 PM CDT Robin Hunt used to walk her pets up to three miles a day at a Libertyville dog park. But she hasn't since July, when two Akitas mauled her 12-pound Chihuahua mix, Deardra, and left her with $5,000 in veterinarian bills. Deardra is among dozens of dogs bitten or attacked in the past year at the region's dog parks, according to data kept by various agencies. Some veterinarians and trainers worry that too few owners take responsibility for their pets in the free-for-all environment in which dogs frolic off-leash. In response, some dog park operators are strengthening rules or creating "adjustment areas"—smaller spaces where dogs may get accustomed to socializing before entering the larger park. Among them is Lake in the Hills' Bark Park, where a pack of young dogs killed a Pomeranian last year. Advocates who enumerate the benefits of exercise and socialization say the majority of dogs safely use parks. But as dedicated dog parks proliferate in the Chicago area, others say the problem of dog attacks is just emerging. Even the most docile animals, they say, can raise another pup's hackles or skirmish over a toy. "Dog parks are a great idea, but I honestly don't think there's enough control," said Cathie Sabin, owner of B.C. Dog Training in Mundelein. "I have seen people pull up to a dog park, open the gates, let the dogs in and go back in their car and read a newspaper." Most dog parks require permits and proof that the animal is vaccinated. Sabin wonders if the permit holders should also be tested on whether their dog responds by name and if the owner can recognize menacing signs, such as a dog that assumes an aggressive stance. Dr. Kristen Temo, a veterinarian who treated Deardra at the Animal Emergency and Treatment Center in Grayslake, said she often treats dogs for scrapes after they visit Libertyville's Independence Grove Dog Exercise Area. Temo rarely takes her 95-pound dog there. "That's because I don't like sewing up cuts on my day off," she said. When the Akitas cornered Deardra, the two women who brought them had walked around a bend, deep in conversation. Hunt said one of the Akitas had started "death shaking" Deardra by the time she was able to get the women's attention by screaming. Deardra underwent surgery to fix a gaping hole in her abdomen. It is difficult to estimate the numbers of injuries at the parks because they are often lumped into broader categories of dog bites. It's likely that some aren't reported at all. Chicago and Cook County officials declined to provide statistics but said they have received very few reports. Lake County Animal Control Supervisor Len Hackl estimates that he receives 20 to 25 reports annually of dog-on-dog bites at the four dog parks owned by the Forest Preserve District. "We just had a discussion with some of the forest preserve staff, because we found out there were incidents being reported to them and not to us and vice versa," Hackl said. "We are going to keep better track of that, especially with spring and summer coming." The DuPage County Forest Preserve District recorded 26 dog-on-dog incidents at its seven off-leash dog parks in 2006, spokesman Bill Weidner said. In McHenry County, dog parks are overseen by municipalities, and no such statistics are available. But Bark Park in Lake in the Hills instituted new rules after the Pomeranian's death. The park now prohibits dogs that are aggressive, in heat or younger than 6 months. No statistics were available for the two dog parks operated by Will County's Forest Preserve District. The district has rescinded several permits because of aggressive dog behavior over six years, said spokesman Bruce Hodgdon. He recalls easily the most serious incident, on the opening day of Hammel Woods, in which a small dog died. Even the people who love dog parks and seldom have problems say they understand the need to tend to their animals. "I've had maybe two incidents where I've come across an aggressive dog," said Selina Carpenter of Grayslake, a regular at Independence Grove park. In one case, she said a yellow lab growled at her Great Dane, Hampton, when he tried to play with the lab's toy. In most dog parks, regulars develop friendships and form a self-policing community, she said. Authorities say regulars often report park violations. Trainer Toriano Sanzone, owner of DOPA Dogs in Chicago, said he advises clients to run through training commands with their dogs at the parks and then reward them by letting them run off-leash. "You shouldn't just let them go," said Sanzone, who said that too many owners talk on cell phones or socialize with others while their dogs play. He likened it to parents ignoring preschoolers at a park. "Eventually someone is going to fall off a slide or get into it over a particular swing," he said. He advises owners to keep a short 4-inch leash on their dogs so they can restrain them if necessary. Other trainers suggest bringing an air horn to scare off an aggressive dog. If there is a fight between dogs, experts say it will be difficult to step in without getting hurt. Some advise pulling a dog's hind legs to get it away from another animal; others suggest wedging a large stick in the dog's mouth. Maggie Ross, 25, of Lake Villa said she was terrified when a stocky white dog—she is not sure of the breed—latched onto the neck of her yellow Labrador retriever at Independence Grove last month. Her 9-month-old dog, Payton, wasn't injured badly because he was wearing a collar that became entangled in the attacker's teeth, she said. "My dog was gasping for air. His eyes were bulging out," Ross said. "From the sounds of it, I thought my dog was dying." The woman who owned the attacking dog was fined $300 and prohibited from returning to the park because there was a prior record of her two pets fighting, officials said. "Dogs won't fight unless there's an issue," Sabin said. "But like people with their kids, it's never my kid [who started it]. It's never my dog." |
|
|
| I think people have to also understand that there is a decided difference between aggressiveness and playing. I find, of late, I am increasingly disheartened with going to dog parks because of the other peoples' lack of knowledge of basic dog behavior and their inability to take responsibility for their animals. We suffer a lot of big dog discrimination. Wrestling is not fighting, play mouthing is not biting-- and I don't just mean for my dogs, I'm talking about all dogs. people need to understand the difference and not freak out when dogs interact normally, even if it's behavior that they aren't used to. Dogs are not humans and too many people treat them like they are. |
ButtersStotch wrote: people need to understand the difference and not freak out when dogs interact normally, even if it's behavior that they aren't used to.
I totally agree. Especially because animals will pick up on their owners mood/energy/attitude and change their behavior and responses. |
| Thanks for that article, Hendrix's mom. This dog park is literally 2 minutes from my house....scary stuff. I am probaby way overprotective, but I don't take Oscar to dog parks, nor did I take our previous sheepie, Quincy. I have three friends who are vets, and have worked privately with two trainers, and none of them take their own dogs to dog parks for this very reason. The vets have sewn up too many dogs, and the trainers know how few people train and have control over their pets.
In an ideal world, I'd love to let Oscar roam free and play off-leash, but I don't trust that other people pets are safe. Laurie |
| I am very careful when I take the dogs to the dog park. If we see a dog being brought into the park that appears to be questionable - we take our dogs and leave. By going at the same time on the same day - normally it is the same dogs every time.
I do agree with Butterscotch though. I have noticed that some people that have only dogs don't realize when dogs are playing and it isn't fighting. |
| I bring our boys to the park in Oakbrook, Illinois. I've only seen one fight and it was between 2 boxers. Nothing bad happened and it was under control fast. Once I saw the dogs fight we decided to leave. Hendrix has the reputation of the referee at the park. He's got the coloring and he's the only dog that is barking at the park. When ever dogs are playing, he always decides he needs to be in the middle. I think it helps that the park we go requires a permit, typically owners are more cautious and controling of their dogs. |
BatonRougeSheepies wrote: I am very careful when I take the dogs to the dog park. If we see a dog being brought into the park that appears to be questionable - we take our dogs and leave. By going at the same time on the same day - normally it is the same dogs every time.
I do agree with Butterscotch though. I have noticed that some people that have only dogs don't realize when dogs are playing and it isn't fighting. I leave a lot. We have the big dogs so it's always our fault.  |
I went to the dog park today - I took Maggie the blue tick, and LeAnne's Clay. There were all great dogs (and great owners) there this afternoon. All the dogs played appropriately and everyone had a good time. 
We have a big storm now this evening, and I think many had the same idea as me - to get the dogs out for some exercise before the rains hit! 
This was probably the best day we've had there - about 10-15 dogs at any time and they all were well behaved. |
| The worst thing about the dog park is if it rains I can't go back until I know the park is dry. I hate coming home with dirty dogs. I have got into the habit of sticking shirts on the boys so that they stay a little cleaner too. |
ButtersStotch wrote: I leave a lot. We have the big dogs so it's always our fault.
That Bear is such a troublemaker.  And don't get me started on Clyde 
They are just misunderstood  |
Amanda P wrote: ButtersStotch wrote: I leave a lot. We have the big dogs so it's always our fault. That Bear is such a troublemaker. And don't get me started on Clyde They are just misunderstood In all fairness, Bear can be a troublemaker because he can be pretty overbearing for some dogs-- but I'm never in denial about it either. If he gets too rowdy (he's never been aggressive-- even when he was attacked first) he goes back on leash and takes a time out, where he has to lie down and relax for a few minutes. Then after he's calm, we try again. He's just a big clumsy Baby Huey that doesn't always know his strength. I never let him out of my sight though because of that, though and I'm literally hovering over him when he starts to wrestle with any dog other than Clyde. Lol. Don't get me started on Clyde, either.  |
| I do the same as Jill, only with Bosley.
Dixie is always submissive, so if anything I watch to make sure she doesn't get bullied...But she runs real fast, so can get away
Bosley is usually OK, and he has greatly improved in the past year. Less wrestling, and more running around now. He is more of an adult, now, I guess. BUT, he seems to get antsy when other dogs are playing rough, or with boxers, for some reason...I always watch him, and if something looks like it could get him going I call him over for some good butt rubs and distract him...Then we can move off to another area. He was really good for months, then just last week someone showed up with a young boxer and before I could turn around Bosley had pinned him to the ground, standing over him all tough-like.  He didn't do anything bad to him, but the boxer was scared, so I hauled Bosley off him....A bit later they were playing nicely, but I was watching him like a hawk... ...And I made sure that the boxer's owner knew I was watching Bosley. too.
And if ever another dog showed up that could cause friction, we leave...Period. |
| One of the dogs there yesterday was an intact male brindle boxer - so I watched him. Thankfully he was well trained and his owner was very attentive. No troubles! If only this was always the case. I hate it when the owners think it is their social time and walk away, visit or get in deep cell phone conversations. |
got sheep wrote: One of the dogs there yesterday was an intact male brindle boxer - so I watched him. Thankfully he was well trained and his owner was very attentive. No troubles! If only this was always the case. I hate it when the owners think it is their social time and walk away, visit or get in deep cell phone conversations.
I'm glad that you had a good experience with someone who was attentive to their dog and recognized that he needed to be. But, I think as a rule, an intact dog (especially male) should not be at the dog park. There are too few people like the owner that you described and so many more that don't even know where their dog is let alone what they're doing. I've noticed on the few occasions that we've been at a park when an intact male showed up, the entire attitude of the whole dog park changes. A lot of the neutered males seem to be drawn immediately to the intact one and then the intact male starts getting defensive because of all the unwanted attention. We had one guy at the indoor dog park that the owner finally just told to stop coming because his dog caused such a raucous with the boys. |
| I love to take Max to the dog park, and for the most part it's always a great time. Most of the people and dogs we come across are great and the dogs have lots of fun. Now and then there are some brawls. Max has never been involved in one, but I can recall 2 times when blood spilled, luckily not life threatening. Something else that bugs me is when parents bring very small children in to the dog park and let them just wander wherever. Here are all these dogs running crazily everywhere and their toddler is in the middle of everything, it just makes me nervous because I know Max would not hurt anyone on purpose, but he'll knock you down!! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|