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Dog park makes for happy dog owner |
By Courtney Duffett The Oshawa Express Darryl Kehler is happy to have a place where his dogs can run and play without being stuck by his side. The Oshawa resident enjoys taking his two dogs, Ransom, a chocolate lab, and Kira, an Australian Shepherd, both 8- years-old, to the off-leash dog park at Harmony Valley Conservation Area in Oshawa on a regular basis.“Things are pretty good here,” says Kehler, adding that he still used the park to walk with his dogs before part of the area officially became an off-leash dog park about one year ago. “The dogs have a good area to run and play.” Kehler adds that the park is busier than ever but stays clean and well kept with all the garbage cans that have been added throughout the area. In addition, Kehler feels his dogs can be free without a leash and able to be around other dogs without the thought of them being attacked. In the fall of 2007, the City of Oshawa turned 25 of a total 72 acres of the Harmony Valley Conservation Area into an off-leash dog park. In addition, a volunteer ambassador group, Oshawa Durham Area Walking Group (ODAWG) was formed to oversee the park and make sure people comply with the rules, including leashing dogs in non off-leash areas and picking up after their pets.“We’ve come a long way in the first year,” says Clare Ford, chair of the ODAWG. “The big thing is that we wanted a place to walk with our dogs.” However, Ford says there are some things that need work and change, including better signage at the fenced off areas of the off-leash area of the park. In addition, Ford says it would be nice to see the entire conservation area be turned into an offleash area.“(This park) is one of the most wellused dog parks in and around the Durham area,” says Ford, adding that it is also one of the largest. However, Ford has seen some 400 dog walkers in one day go through the park and would like to see there be even more space for their pets. Allison Hart and her husband Jamie have come from Courtice for about a year with their one-year-old Golden Retriever, Penny, to make use of the off-leash area.“We like it,” says Hart. “We really appreciate having it this year. However, it would be nice if it was all off-leash.” Since officially becoming an off-leash dog park, Ford hasn’t heard of any problems arising with any of the dog walkers.“The dogs tend to stay with their owners,” says Ford. However, Ford says growling and barking are part of a dogs’ normal behaviour and people need to accept that this will occur. If people encounter a problem, they can contact the city’s bylaw office or animal control, she says.“It’s all about encouragement and education though,” says Ford, adding that the majority of the people she sees in the area are dog walkers, and understand about a dogs’ nature.“All-in-all it’s doing very well,” says Ford, adding that she only expects the area to improve and for more people to start using it.“We need more of these areas for dogs,” she says. For more information on the off-leash dog park at Harmony Valley Conservation Area, visit www.harmonydogpark.ca or www.oshawa.ca. |
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©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
