AHS - Dog Parks & Their Benefits

Dog parks contain animals in public areas away from people who prefer not to interact with them, and dogs who have had the benefit of dog park socialization and exercise are better behaved when encountered elsewhere. How does the community benefit? A dog park increases public health. Toileting and marking behavior that is stimulated by exercise or the presence of other dogs is contained in dog parks. A fenced dog park prevents injuries that befall dogs running loose and because the dogs are better behaved and controlled, there should be less dog-related problems elsewhere in the park or the community at large. By their presence, groups of dog owners and their dogs may help deter crime. A dog park makes it easier for a city to enforce its leash law since owners who have access to a dog park have no excuse for letting their dogs run loose. Since behavioral problems are often cited by dog owners who relinquish their dogs, dog parks may alleviate overpopulation at shelters. AT A GLANCE Imagine places where dogs can play, exercise, and socialize safely and legally off- leash. In the United States and in other countries around the world, these places - commonly known as “dog parks,” “dog runs,” or “free running areas” - are rising in popularity and demand. Commonly managed by users in cooperation with local

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