Humans enjoy dog parks too

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Humans enjoy dog parks too

Chandler plans to put 2 more dog facilities in operation by 2010

Edythe Jensen
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 10, 2007 12:00 AM

For a large group of social Chandler residents the ultimate icebreaker has four paws and drools.

The city's three dog parks have become such popular places for humans and their pets to meet and play that municipal officials are making plans to build two more.

"Some of the people who come here after work go out to eat together," said Shawnee Bark Park regular Dave Kreiling, who was there recently with his mastiff. "I hear there's a 'beagle day.' I think it's Tuesday, but don't know for sure how it works."

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According to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, there are 16,369 licensed pooches in Chandler ZIP codes and an estimated 5,400 unlicensed. Department spokesman David Weissman said the unlicensed estimate comes from experiences of a staff that takes in strays and responds to loose-dog calls.

In Chandler, that's about one dog for every 11 humans. Pocket pets may be fashionable with celebrities, but the most popular breed in every area of the city is the Labrador retriever, followed by German shepherds and golden retrievers.

Assistant Community Services Director Dave McDowell said dogs are rough on grass and the canine attractions are more difficult to maintain than most. But Chandler's bark parks are such a big hit with residents that the city will put two new ones in the southeastern portion by 2010 - in Mesquite Groves Park northwest of Riggs Road and Val Vista Drive and in the future Paseo Vista Park northwest of Ocotillo and McQueen roads.

"We never imagined so many people would use the dog parks when we first started them," he said. "They're really more of a social place for dog owners."

For John Keefe, it's a daily ritual. "I come here every day at 4:30 with Trixi (his black Labrador). After the park we go to Filibertos and we each get a bean burro," he said. "I'm retired. I can't watch Oprah all day."

Like Keefe, many of the park users are regulars who come at the same time one or more days a week. "Everybody knows the first names of the people and the names of their dogs," Keefe said.

On weekday mornings, owners tote coffee cups with their leashes. Crowds pick up around 5 p.m. when the evening group gets off work. Saturdays, the place is packed, said Tim LeRoy, who was watching his Brittany spaniel run. "It's close to my house and a good place to meet people. About a month ago, there were about 30 dachshunds over here."

Leilani Manako and Darbi Willis met at the Shawnee Park near Alma School and Elliot roads recently and talked while their dogs took turns chasing each other. "I see people getting together here to celebrate their dogs' birthdays with a party. There was one where they were passing out dog treats and it almost started a (dog) fight."

Socializing in Chandler dog parks extends to the Internet where Merri Howard and her husband started a "big dogs' social club" to make bark park play dates with other owners of large breeds. The couple takes turns hauling their three large and two small dogs to Chandler bark parks.

"Our yard is way too small for five dogs," she said. "When I took the Great Dane to a neighborhood greenbelt and let her off leash, she bolted. It scared me, so I decided we'd better take them to a dog park."

With their fenced enclosures and double gates, dog parks offer secure places for free running. The city also provides "waste stations" with recycled plastic grocery bags for residents to pick up after their pets. Most do, McDowell said, and the city won an award for the cost-saving measure.

As with all human behavior, not everyone does the right thing. But dog park regular Jan Miller said she and others do extra pooper scooper duties "because we want to keep the parks nice."