In Vermont, the City of Burlington is asking residents for feedback about proposed off-leash dog parks for locals, reported WCAX.
According to the article, Burlington currently has over 7,300 dogs and only three dog parks. Of those, one located at Starr Farm is the only public space where dogs can roam off-leash. Carmen Delaney of Burlington said, “I would definitely say there isn’t enough of the off-leash spaces”.
Conducting a Survey
As a result, city officials are sending out a survey asking residents where they’d like to see more off-leash dog areas in Burlington. Notably, the survey also asks residents for specific times of day they’d like to have this option available.
“So you know if you’re afraid of dogs, you can say, ‘You know what, I’m not going to go to the park today,’” said Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront’s Cindi Wight. As the head of the task force, Wight said the locations named on the survey are areas where people take their dogs off-leash anyways.
“Let’s see if we can try to, as a community, come together and say OK, here’s where they can be off-leashed. Here’s where they have to be leashed,” Wight also said.
Off-Leash Dog Parks Can Be Good or Bad, Depending on How They’re Used
Although having your dog off-leash is convenient, dog owners need to be responsible and aware. In the UK, for example, free-roaming dogs have disturbed fragile breeding grounds for wildlife. As a rule of thumb, it’s generally safer to always have your dog leashed no matter where you are. Not only does it help people afraid of dogs feel safer, but it can also prevent your dog from contracting severe infections.
However, for Burlington dog owners, off-leash is just the way to go. According to Ron Pynn, another Burlington resident, “Most of the people I see have a leash with them but not attached to their dogs”. Not surprisingly, the proposal also has its critics. One resident—an avid cyclist—said that they’ve had their fair share of run-ins with leashless dogs, and would rather not encourage the behavior.
Regardless, as a small city with a sizable dog population, it’s important for places like Burlington to consider what resources are available for dog owners. And for dog owners themselves, it’s important to know what a quality dog park should include.
