It would be nice if my puppy had a safe place to play off-leash outside, but I haven’t been able to find anywhere in Lubbock besides my own backyard.
Some of the parks in town with large fields might be a good option for those who trust their dogs not to run into the street, but my little girl isn’t so well behaved. She’s almost a year old and still not aware of the dangers of cars or how to control the impulse to greet everyone she sees.
Any passerby across the street could tempt her to step in front of danger. It’s just not a risk I’m willing to take.
The solution? Creating a dog park in Lubbock.
I’m not the first person to wish we had one. I found out last week about a group in town dedicated to the creation and management of a local dog park. They hosted a doggy play day at Maxey Park this weekend to garner support for the cause and, of course, I decided to go.
It was so much fun to be around other dog lovers and their pooches. Plus, it was great for Gaia, my under-socialized Labrador and pitbull mutt. She was shy from the get go and frequently looked over her shoulder to avoid being surprised by a butt sniff.
For the few hours we stayed at the event, she tentatively said hello to the dogs we stood beside. She also tried her best to sniff other dogs’ bottoms when they weren’t paying attention to her because she didn’t seem to like having the action reciprocated.
Her modesty stems from the fact that she hasn’t had many experiences meeting and playing with other dogs. From her few experiences with playmates, I know that she really enjoys being around other dogs but she just doesn’t know all the social rules.
It takes her time to muster the courage to say hello — something confident, well-socialized dogs don’t think about twice. And walking her around a park or outdoor events with mostly people and a few dogs on leashes just isn’t enough to remedy her unfamiliarity with other dogs.
So, since my boyfriend and I aren’t ready to adopt another dog, I’m jumping aboard the movement for a dog park in Lubbock. I think everyone with a dog should, too.
For more information about ways to help or how to get involved, go to Lubbockdogpark.com. Also, this will be my last column until the fall semester begins, but keep checking out my blog all summer long at dailyvida.wordpress.com for more posts about local and global issues, the environment and organic gardening.
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