Photo by Jennie Miller Zak, 4 1/2, an American Staffordshire terrier, is all smiles now that he’s got a dog park in the city he lives in with Pam Ortner of Madison Heights.

Residents flock to local
dog parks to show their
furry friends a good time

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

On July 6, the first day the Red Oaks Dog Park opened in Madison Heights, resident Pam Ortner, 57, showed up twice.

“I was the first one here this morning,” she said in the evening during her second visit with Zak, 4, an American Staffordshire terrier. “I’ve been waiting for this to open. Zak is a big dog. He requires a lot more exercise than I can give him. He likes running. And he likes playing with the other dogs. But I haven’t taught him to fetch yet.”

Madison Heights residents Bob Leman, 29, and his wife, Lori Leman, 28, also brought their 1 1/2-year-old rescue pup Lexi to the dog park the day it opened.

“She’s been asking about this place — she knew it was opening,” Lori said with a laugh as she gave the pup a pat and let her run free.

Dog parks are popping up all over the area as pet owners are looking for a place to take their pets to socialize and get some exercise. Locations include Clinton Township, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mount Clemens, St. Clair Shores, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Warren and West Bloomfield. Some are specifically for residents only, and require a membership and sometimes a key, while others are open to the public.

Such is the case in Clinton Township, where 1 1/2 acres of park land have been accessible to dogs and their owners for more than 10 years.

“We were one of the first in the area to open a dog park,” said Frank Pizzo, assistant director of the Clinton Township Parks and Recreation Department. “There was a demand from our residents. We provide recreation opportunities for everybody, including our animals.”

The city recognizes the public’s strong love for their dogs and incorporates that into recreation opportunities. There are competitions at the park, such as Frisbee catching contests, and the city also includes the family pet in holiday celebrations, such as taking photos with Santa Claus and showing off their Halloween costumes.

But the city also takes great care in making sure things don’t get out of hand. The park is only accessible with a key card acquired by signing up for an annual membership.

“We have pretty strict rules and guidelines, and that gives us structure with the residents,” Pizzo said, adding that a dog’s shots must be up to date, and the owner must have a certified dog license with the county.

Most dog owners enjoy the parks because of the opportunity for dogs to socialize with one another, as well as the chance for them to run off a leash in a safe and secure area.

“We thought this would be really good for her,” said Kelly Fisher of Madison Heights, who brought her dog, Lucy, 3, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, to the Red Oaks Dog Park opening, along with her son, Noah, 10. “We’ve never taken her to one of these before, but we wanted to check it out. It’s a great opportunity for her to get some exercise and meet other dogs.”

“It’s nice to let your dog just run,” said Jessie Lambouris, 20, a park attendant at Red Oaks. “It’s the ability to let your dog wander and run, and not have to worry about having your dog escape, because it’s fenced in.”

Many parks request that dog owners bring their own materials to pick up after their dogs, but others have them on hand. Most have a water supply, and dog owners can bring their own bowls.

“This is so nice,” said Doreen Elliott, 39, of Madison Heights, as her Great Dane/boxer mix Chance, 2 1/2, took off for his first run in the dog park. “I just hope I can catch him.”

For more information about dog parks in your area, visit the website www.detroitdogparks.com or call your local parks and recreation department.