Loading ...Gone are the days of taking your dog to the park or beach and letting them run free. Not only do most cities have local ordinances that prohibit it, they actually write citations to pet owners who fail to keep their dogs on leashes.
I understand the reason for the ordinances but I wish it wasn’t necessary to pass such laws. I suppose it’s inevitable given the increase in population and the number of animal-related lawsuits. And quite frankly, there is no one that I can think of who enjoys stepping in a smelly pile of dog poop or cleaning up their children who have fallen in it while playing at the neighborhood park. That’s just gross. So, I understand the rules…but I’m still not a big fan.
When I was eleven or twelve I had a dog named Lucky Spot Von Engstrom. He was a German Shorthair Pointer and he was my partner in crime. German Shorthair Pointers are hunting dogs and good hunting dogs need something to hunt. Lucky had me and my brother…and on occasion…the neighbor’s cat. He was smart and he was fast. Not quite as fast as a Cheetah, but pretty darn close.
My brother and I would take Lucky to the park next to our house just about every day. We were supposed to keep him on leash, but Lucky was like Houdini. More often than not, he ended up loose. He was like a Porsche, zero to sixty in five seconds. One minute you’ve got him heeling at your left side, the next you’re literally flying through the park like a windsock in a tornado.
Eventually you figure out that the only way to save yourself is to drop the leash and hug the ground. Let me tell you, it’s much more fun to laugh at someone else picking grass out of their teeth than it is to have them laughing at you while you’re doing the picking. My exploits with Lucky are some of my best childhood memories and I want my children to be able to play with their dog as freely as my brother and I were allowed to play with ours.
Fortunately many cities have risen to the challenge and made efforts to designate certain areas as pet-friendly. Rancho Santa Margarita has accomplished this by providing a Dog Park, located on the back side of Canada Vista Park, off Antonio Parkway just south of Tijeras Creek. The park is set up with three gated sections: an entry / exit section that serves as the dog park foyer; a small dog park; and a large dog park. There is a covered area with benches for dog owners to sit back and relax while “Fido” enjoys time with friends.
A complete list of rules for the Rancho Santa Margarita Dog Park can be found on the City’s website – but here are the basics:
• Park users agree to use park at their own risk
• Dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs
• Owners are responsible to pick up after their dogs (doggie bags and disposal receptacle are provided for convenience)
• Dogs must be licensed & vaccinated
• No puppies, aggressive dogs or females in heat
For a complete list of Dog Park Rules visit the City of Rancho Santa Margarita website.
The few times that I’ve been to the dog park there have been only a few dogs at a time. There was a steady stream of people, but they seemed to move in and out of the park fairly quickly, not staying longer than 15-20 minutes. I’m sure there’s a Dog Park Rush Hour, I just haven’t seen it yet.
I applaud the City of Rancho Santa Margarita for building this park. I am glad to know that there is a place for children to romp and play with their unleashed dogs, and a place for dogs to tear-it-up with their peers.
The hours of the park are sun-up to sun-down seven days per week. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit the park, I highly recommend checking it out. Your special “ Fido” will love you for it!
Photo: Porsche Carerra GT Photographer: MSVG
Technorati Tags: canada vista park, childhood memories, children, City of Rancho Santa Margarita, community, community park, curb appeal, dog park, dog park hours, dog park rules, dogs, family, German Shorthair Pointer, kids, large dog park, local, neighborhood park, orange county, pet owners, rancho santa margarita, rancho santa margarita dog park, rsm, small dog park, south orange county, southern california, things to do, things to do in rancho santa margaritaPopularity: 47% [?]
5 responses so far ↓
1 Linda // Apr 24, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Kids and families need to be free to romp and play with their dogs. Like the writer, I remember such fabulous times with my dog and the neighbor kids in the neighborhood. I, too, had a dog like Lucky. I’m the better for it, if a bit wiser. Let’s hope RSM keeps up the dog parks.
2 inflatable // Apr 26, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Personally, I totally agree with you.
3 Rochelle // Apr 30, 2007 at 5:57 am
I love that the city provides space for our dogs to roam off the leash. I do think, however, that where Pointers are concerned, only a park the size of Montana would be adequate. Is the photo of Lucky Spot Von Engstrom legitimate, or is it a stock Pointer photo?
4 Kelly Kilpatrick // Apr 30, 2007 at 8:31 am
Rochelle: The photo is NOT of Lucky. Lucky would have been captured more adequately in video. Back in the day it was a little more challenging to take action shots!
5 Jonathan Washburn // May 1, 2007 at 6:07 am
Our city (Laguna Beach) also has a dog park that our dog loves… but you know, it’s a quirky thing, with our dog. He much rather walk residentially for hours, sniffing “new and exciting” scents, (”long dog strolls” = “long owner strolls”) and gets bored much faster with the dog park. When he was younger, he was all about the dog park…
Leave a Comment