I am a frequent visitor to Tulsa's first dog park, Joe Station Bark Park. Just wondering if anyone else has been there recently and what you all think about the park.
Let's Talk Pets! » Tulsa Bark Parks
Visits to Joe Station bark park
(5 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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We took Sam and Elmer there this morning -- early. It was not too busy and they had a great time! It was all new to Elmer -- he kept looking around to keep track of us to make sure he wasn't going to be left there. Then he ran with Sam and enjoyed himself. We are fortunate to have a dog park!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I thought that people weren'y supposed to bring little kids. That concerns me. I don't want my dog to run over one of them, but letting him run is the reason why I brought him!
Posted 12 months ago # -
Yes it is an issue at the park. The rules are listed clearly at the park and also on the park's website as well as on several large signs throughout the park but we still get parents that say that they will be 'responsible for their own kids'. That statement does not mean that they are not in violation of Tulsa City ordinance. When these parents allow their children to enter the off leash area, they are not only breaking the law, but are also endangering their children. Visitors to the park can and have called Tulsa PD to report these occurrences. TPD is fully aware of the law and can ticket parents for not abiding by the law. It is up to the visitors of the parks as well as park volunteers to politely point out the rules if they see the rules are being violated. It is also expected that if you as a park visitor sees that children under the age of 12 are in the off leash area, that you can of course call the police as well. A tricky situation since no one wants to have to call TPD when they are tying to enjoy the parks but if you feel that it is necessary, then by all means, call TPD.
There are some very good articles concerning dog park etiquette at the TulsaBarkPark.com site. I encourage all visitors to read the information as well as the rules. By the way, we are not the only city that has this type of rule... You can do a Google search for 'dog park rules' and you wil find that most well run parks, like those in San Diego, Houston, Boca Raton and many others share the same or similar rules as does the city of Tulsa. This is not the city of Tulsa being 'mean' as one Tulsa World commenter recently wrote. Until parents learn of the dangers in dog parks though, I am sure any of us that point out the ordinance will seem as if we are 'mean'. Packing dogs (large or small) and children under the age of 12 years old do not mix. We have seen the friendliest, non aggressive dogs become curious about a running or yelling child.. they gravitate towsrds the child and so do many of the other dogs in the park.. it is a prescription for havoc when dog owners and parents then have to try to separate their kids from the dogs.
For the parents that do not agree with the law, they need to speak to 1.) Their veterinarian and 2.) Any animal behavior specialist such as an accredited and established dog trainer. Ask those professionals as to why kids are not allowed in dog parks and see if they will side with you.
Tulsa is taking a stance on this rule in order to avoid the horrible disfigurments of childen that have happend at other dogs parks that DID NOT enforce the age limit rule. I look forward to more discussions here at TulsaPetsMagazine.com about this and hope that we hear from both sides. Keep in mind though that as many comments against or for the rule... It is a rule and will remain so with the city of Tulsa as a ticketable child endangerment offense until you can convince the city and park officials that it should not be a rule - that we should take the chance that our children should be given the opportunity to enter an off leash dog park and thus take the chance that they can be severely hurt in an unfortunate situation.
Tulsa has so many public parks... none of which allow for our dogs to be off leash. Joe Station and the coming other dog parks are and will be a SMALL number of parks that do not allow children under 12 but will allow dogs to be off leash.
Let it go folks... don't ruin the dog parks for those that do obey and understand the rules.
Just some Googling info here:
Michigan Dog Park http://www.ezdogpark.com/lookaround.htm it states...NO children 13 yrs. and under, no exceptions, please don't ask!!!! It doesn't mean just because a parent is with them its okay, it's NO children, period! The signs and the rules say "NO exceptions", and that is exactly what it means. Children are not to be on my property at all, which also means outside of your vehicle. These rules are for everybody, please respect them, your kids are taught by example.
Not only is it a liability but it isn't fair to set your child up to be hurt then to blame the dog. Some dogs don't like kids, but even dogs that do can hurt a child without meaning to. When a bunch of dogs are running around playing and not paying attention, somebody can get knocked down and possibly hurt. We can't take our dogs to a kids park, for good reason, so you shouldn't expect to bring kids to a dog park.
Please read and respect the rules. I realize they sound a little stringent but it's for your and your dogs own good. Pay attention to your dog, know where he is and what he is doing at all times, and please clean up after him.
Connecticut Dog Park: http://ctrealestateunleashed.com/2008/08/30/connecticut-dog-park-dos-and-donts/ states a pure COMMON SENSE statement...
Don’t Bring the Kids. Not only is it dangerous for children to be in a dog park, you will likely be more concerned about your children than about your dog and may miss signs of trouble.
Here is a park that does allow kids... but look at their rules regarding kids... It's almost as if they are discouraging kids as well... http://www.upperdublin.net/inc/documents/26/ChildrenInDogParks.pdf
The are many many more references all over the internet about rules in dog parks concerning kids.. Some parks are less restrictive while some are more restrictive.
I ask you this though - A dog owner must be responsible for his dog at the dog park. He can be held accountable for his dogs actions if his dog injures someone. Now in comes a parent with a child under 12. That parent feels that HE will be responsible for his underage child. The dog now goes on and plays with other dogs, running and romping as dogs do. The child wants to pet or play with the dog but maybe the dog's mind is on running with the pack... the child continues trying to get the dog's attention. The dog while normally quite friendly sees this as a taunt and then perhaps bites the child. - OR - The child brings food to the park or toys - which can lure the attention of not just one dog but many dogs towards the child... The dogs pack towards the child and perhaps knock him down or cause serious injury... so the parent now sues the dog owner for something that happened to a child that was not allowed to be in the park in the first place... The owner perhaps loses his dog for OBEYING park rules BUT the parent who taught his child that ignorance of the law is fine to begin with... is allowed to benefit from all of this? Let me know when it is ok to let a few dogs off leash in YOUR child's playground under similar circumstances.
DOG PARKS ARE NOT PLAYGROUNDS!
Posted 11 months ago # -
For those of you that would like to either become a volunteer for Tulsa's Bark parks or if you would just like to attend a meeting and have a question about volunteering or park rules in general, there will be a Volunteer Training Session on Saturday. April 25th, 2009 - 10AM at Joe Station Bark Park - 2279 Charles Paige Blvd. We will meet by the bleachers just inside the entrance to the park.
Kelly Carter, founder of Lab Rescue will be also be informing us about dogs and their behavior. More info about can be found at http://tulsabarkpark.com
Posted 10 months ago #
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