Why is everyone in this city so anti-pet?
After dozens of e-mails, letters and petitions, we responsible people living downtown finally have a chance to have an off-leash dog park where we can take our companions for exercise and fun. Most people with animal companions are responsible, and pick up after their pets and, frankly, most of the pets are more well-behaved than the kids whom we have to put up with in local restaurants and stores. If you are worried about your kids being exposed to parasites, don't bring them to the park.
As part of a two-person-income family, living downtown, no kids, I'm sure that I spend way more money in the city of Augusta than most others do. Most every metropolitan city in the country has at least one dog park. Yes, some people don't take care of their dogs, they don't pick up after them, and probably keep them tied to a tree in the back yard, but we people who love our pets, and spend more money in this community than a lot of people do on their kids, should have a park for our companions.
As for the gardens, I live a block away, and every time I have been there, my dogs and I have been the only visitors. The dogs of the area would appreciate it much more than the human citizens of the area.
Michael Powell, Augusta
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With all your disposable income I bet you could buy a large home with a fenced lot in Columbia County - you sound like someone who would fit in out there.
Why not use Lake Olmstead Stadium as a dog park during off hours? As an added benefit, pets would provide free fertilizer, helping to subsidize maintenance of grass.
Mr Powell, if you turned your dog loose in the gardens and I turned my dog loose in the gardens, how would they respond? My dog is very well behaved up to now. Have you ever seen a kind, well disciplined dog turn vicious toward a stranger for no particular reason? I have, and the victim was a very kind person that owned dogs. There's no telling how an animal will react in a new setting. Steps need to be taken to address this situation so someone defending themselves won't kill your dog or sue you for every penny you have. Wisdom and self preservation need to be considered along with gratification.
With all of the other needs in Richmond County and the city of Augusta, I would rate the need for a dog park way down on the list. There is inadequate school playground equipment and very few children friendly parks. If you don't have space for a dog to run and play, maybe you don't need a dog!
the dog park in Athens, GA seems to "operate" fine, and they seem to work in a lot of US cities. Why are people so worried about a dog park in our town, or think that it won't work here?
The dog park can be looked at like a radio station you dont like. If you dont like the idea, dont go there. If you do go, you are probably doing it in the interest of your pet, to let them get some exercise and have some fun. There are lots of dog parks around the country that are well run. The city is not trying to cure cancer here. This has been done and there are lessons learned.
Dog Park?? No problem. Putting it on land worth $6 Million (spent by tax payers to make the gardens)?? Big problem. Let's find some place else.
I have a large fenced in back yard and my dog can do anything she likes there and not bother anyone else. I will also be sure to clean up after her as well.
Mr. Powell, you sound like a very important person. Wow, you even have a two income family. And you even spend a lot more money than most people in the city of Augusta. You, sir, win the award as pompous ass of the week.
I think that if the gardens were kept up, then there would be an argument that the dogs would do damage to the millions spent. But everytime I have passed, I see dying or dead plants. These dogs would atleast keep them watered! =) I think a dog park in this town would be wonderful. We have a back yard, but sometimes you want something different. My husband and I enjoy taking our dogs out to the parks and the river. But its a hassle keeping them on a leash when they want to run and play. Not to mention the people who are scared of the dogs merely because of their size. So hopefully they will decide on a nice place for us to let our dogs play.
More like "let's make a Doggy Death Arena!"
When a dog wets on a plant, it harms the plant. Put the dog park in some other established park that is not a "garden".
I use to love taking my dog Gus short for "AuGUSta" places with me like the dog friendly beach of SC's coast Isle Of Plams until he took a big dump on the shore line in front of every body and I caught heck trying to catch it from the tide rolling it all over the place. There were other dogs running free on the beach and no fights and yes I've been there more then once. Long story short I guess no matter what Augusta's crappy.
build your own dog park
dang Hypo, what a novel idea. All of the parkless dog owners could form a coalition and buy a centrally located piece of property and use it for a dog park. They could design it, maintain it, and set rules for using it. Oh yeah, they also could cover the insurance for all potential injuries that may take place there.(human and canine) I think the "dog park" mystery may be solved.
PT, you solved this problem!!
H2S, seek and ye shall find. It's amazing what some of us choose to seek.
Wow, seems like there are a lot of Michael Vicks living in Augusta.
And to anyone who has not been to a dog park, most all people who bring their pets there are very responsible, and self-police the parks, not allowing aggressive dogs, or people who don't pick up after their pets.
What an excuse for people to show off their dogs to others!Try to repair your own miserable personality and find something interesting in your life other than watching dogs smell each others butts.
Who said they hate dogs? Just because I do not want my taxes to go towards a park for Fluffy, does not mean that I hate dogs. No, when I bought my house, I made sure that the yard was big enough for my dog. First it was a skate board park, now a dog park, what is next?
Not too far away down Gordon Hwy. from Regency Mall is the old Goldberg Scrap Yard. It has been cleaned up with superfund money and has been blessed off by the EPD. It has a chain link fence all the way around it. It is ready to go for a dog park at no expense. Easy access, centrally located, several acres and a perfect site!