Place would be great to unleash the hounds

Last week brought tail-wagging good news for Spokane Valley dogs and their human friends.

Spokane County officials are thinking of turning an old county- owned landfill in the Valley into a regional dog park.

This would be a special place where dogs could legally run off- leash. It would be the first of its kind in our area.

Now that spring is in the air, many of us are thinking about those glorious warm days when we can entice Harley or Hercules into the car and take him for a ride.

Usually the destination itself is not what excites our pal, but rather the pure joy of riding in the car with the windows partially open, letting all that wonderful Valley wind ruffle through his doggie ears.

But what if the destination of the ride was some place special? Can you imagine the intense tail wagging?

How many times have we gone to the park with our dogs pulling at the leash, only to be confronted by a "No dogs allowed" sign in the parking lot?

And how many of us have surreptitiously released our beloved companion from the confines of his leash so that he might enjoy the freedom of running across the grass in a neighborhood park?

The Puget Sound area has about 20 parks dedicated to dogs. One park has benches, a message kiosk with canine information, drinking water and plastic bags so owners can clean up after their pets.

Finally, the idea has caught on here. With as many dogs as we have in the Valley, this park is an idea whose time has come. At last year's Bark in the Park event at Franklin Park on the North Side, the event organizer collected 80 signatures on a petition asking for a dog park in Spokane.

Many dog owners have fenced yards. But ask any dog, there is something liberating and exhilarating about running across freshly- mowed grass in pursuit of a tennis ball, without being chased by The Man.

Our dog friends deserve no less!

This new park would be located near Eastern Road and 12th Avenue on county-owned land that was once a landfill.

Since this 10-acre parcel of land is unsuitable for building, the plan is to cover the dump area with a rubber membrane and dirt, and then develop the dog park.

What a perfect solution for what many would consider a wasteland.

The county once attempted to sell this land, but a bank that bought it gave it back after discovering it was unsuitable for development.

So you could say, this land has gone to the dogs. And now dogs, dog owners and all the rest of us will benefit.

With a park of their own, it is my guess that dog owners will be less inclined to allow Skippy or Milo the run of a regular park, only to inadvertently leave his unpleasant calling card for future visitors.

There is also the very real issue of safety. How many times have the owners of small dogs taken them to a park only to be confronted by a larger and often aggressive canine?

I cannot think of anything more heartbreaking than watching a small dog being threatened, and sometimes even attacked by its giant counterpart.

And then there is the issue of dogs running loose on neighborhood streets in our Valley.

If they had a place to call their own, many dog owners would perhaps not be so casual about opening their front door and allowing their dog friend to have the run of the street, to the chagrin of their neighbors.

Unleashed dogs running loose in the wrong place are a threat to their own safety and a nuisance. And it is not their fault.

For the Spokane Valley, 10 acres of fenced and protected parkland especially for dogs will bring peace of mind and a sense of pride in our community.

I'm willing to bet that our dogs will feel the same.

Copyright 2002 Cowles Publishing Company
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