so many comments and complaints have been posted on local blogs that show the public perception of animal control is not the best. i have first-hand experience that support the opionon of animal control’s response time,etc. i also volunteer for the shelter so i am aware of the many issues affecting their response time – everything always comes down ot money in the end, so the animal control situation isn’t any different. from things i’ve seen, heard, read and discovered i feel there is a real opportunity to generate some support for a dog park and for animal control staffing needs,etc.

if anybody wants to meet and disscuss this in greater detail, please give me a call – 804-248-8547 and leave a message with your # if you get my voicemail message!

However, he (animal control officer) did inform me that the city wants to close the park to all dogs, leashed and unleashed.

Later, talking with another friend, I did learn that the city only has 6 full time animal control offiers, of which 2 are on long term leave. So I do still wonder why this guy is making targeting well behaved dogs in the park a priority when there are unattended dogs wandering in the street throughout our neighborhood.

Man, sometimes this cities priorities are way out of line.

Also, there is a petition at Captain Buzzy’s you can sign to show your support for building a dog park.

There’s a whole colony of ground hogs, under the Kudzu, over in back of Robby Delahy’s house on Libby Terrace. Your pups would be in “Hog Heaven”.

Lu M.

You can email us chimbodogs@hotmail.com
We have a letter of intent to send to the city this week and are hoping to get a group of interested folks together on the 4, 8, or 10th of Oct to start developing a plan. If you have ideas, comments, or just want to help out.. email us. We will need all the community support folks can muster :)

"…individuals … above the law because they are the law … there is a more severe penalty for knowing the law and outright throwing it away." – What penalty might that be?

"a few nosy nellys that like to follow people and take pics of their dogs off leash and tattle to the dog cop" – Who?

"it has been there animals who have instigated particular attacks." – I assume their was meant. If so, who?

"authorities got tired of having illegitimate calls about rabid pits at large (in a nutshell)" – What are the names of the authorities that told you this or how did you find out?

And, despite my inclination to let this dissipate, I will claim a point of personal privilege to respond to a couple of points. 1) I’ve got a fenced yard. My dogs can have 30 feet (and more) to wander. Having 50-60 yards to run, all-out, is another matter and a long leash doesn’t begin to address that. 2) I think it is stunning that I’m being attacked by someone who also wants/wanted to let their dogs off leash in Chimborazo. If you read above, my position is and has been that there is a responsible way to do this (although, I concede, illegal).

In an attempt to shift the focus to productive pursuits: I would love to find a way to establish a place for pooches to run free in the neighborhood and I will support reasonable steps in that direction.

And as far as the leashless dogs issue goes, I think enough is enough. Are there really any new viewpoints?

Give it a rest already!

You wrote: “i’m pissed off that i can no longer legally use the park. thank you orlando and peter. your valiant efforts to rid chimbo of pits is paying off. you just single handedly rid chimbo of every breed known to man.”

First, shame on you for playing the “Pit Bull card!” There are too many lovely pit bulls in this neighborhood and elsewhere for you to suggest that Chimbo residents are anti Pit! No one is targeting you or your pit bulls. In fact, you and your dogs were once embraced as newcomers to Chimbo, even when you allowed your dogs off leash in the park like so many others.

Secondly, it was Orlando’s dog that ended up at the Veterinary Emergency Center after being bitten by your dog. It was also Orlando who footed the typically large bill at the VEC. You were not the least bit contrite after the incident, nor did you offer to pay for the vet bill or any part thereof. Most egregious of all, you remained in denial about your dog’s aggressive tendencies and continued to allow him off leash despite the potential for more or worse troubles, all the while labeling the other dogs as the aggressors.

You further wrote: “…but i would be the first to step and take “permanent” action should they no longer be fit to interact w/ the rest of the world.” This situation, this dog blog and the stepped up enforcement of existing leash laws by Animal Control and the Police may never have come about if you had, in fact, obeyed the law and kept your dogs on leash. You should have taken your own advice when you wrote: “… here’s a novel idea. everyone leash your animal and enjoy the park. this is exactly what you would do through any other part of the city. if you have an issue w/ a leash, move to the county, buy some land and enjoy.”

Madam, the culpability for the current situation lies squarely with you and, perhaps, other dog owners who may be inviting trouble by allowing their dogs off leash. It was pretty quiet up here until one of your dogs clearly demonstrated that he is, in fact an “animal” (your words) and you did not act accordingly after the dog showed himself to be “unpredictable” around other dogs (and quite possibly small children). What parent wouldn’t try to protect their child from a dog that has been at the center of more than one incident after being off-leash in the park? Everyone who owns a dog knows about leash laws and those who chose to ignore the law run the risks involved with allowing their dogs to roam freely.

You had the opportunity to take the steps necessary to protect your own dogs and those of other park goers, but you chose not to. And here we are today.

Don’t start a riot and then shout “Can’t we all get along?”

at this point i will retire from further comments due to the inability of the few mental midgets that feel as though their rights are mightier than the rest. get a leash and a life. good luck to ya.

by the way…you should run for mayor. your opinions and inability to follow the law yourself fall right in line w/ the morals and work ethics of the current head of richmond. don’t forget your flock of flunkiesm, i understand that’s a prerequisite.

Interested in running for Mayor?

I think you misunderstand how a leash works. Certainly, it is a means to control your dog, but it is that for two reasons: 1) yes, you may be able to prevent your dog from physically running, jumping, attacking … whatever … because of the leash, but 2) a properly trained dog associates their leash with their handler’s expectation that they be under control. A 30-foot leash does neither of these things very well — it probably either encourages disobediance while on the leash or does not allow the dog the freedom to play that they need.

And, for the record, I don’t think I’m above the law … but I’d like to be. Is there a form that I can fill out or something?

because the authorities got tired of having illegitimate calls about rabid pits at large (in a nutshell) you may no longer use a piece of property perfectly suited for such actitivity. maybe if everyone can come to terms that no one owns the perfect pup and that all dogs, just like people have an attitude, we all need to be kept in check. people watch your tempers and dogs mind your leash.

i’m pissed off that i can no longer legally use the park. thank you orlando and peter. your valiant efforts to rid chimbo of pits is paying off. you just single handedly rid chimbo of every breed known to man.

dogs are animals first and foremost. yes, the boys are my babies, but i would be the first to step and take “permanent” action should they no longer be fit to interact w/ the rest of the world. the rest of the world needs to understand that an open dog park comes w/ consequences and i sadly don’t believe this area is ready for it. let’s work on just getting the ability to walk in the park first and then we can work on running.

My male will not be able to run off leash even in a fenced in area.

yeah, out little guy has to try to alpha every dog bigger than he is, which is all of them…

We will need help to survey the neighborhood and of course get lots and lots of signatures to show we’re serious. Monday, October 1st, the letter will officially be sent to the city so depending on their answer is what we’ll need the most help with. Our goal is to have this done by spring so we can have a place for our pups to play by fall.

My male will not be able to run off leash even in a fenced in area especially since he has taken to defending his sister from possible aggressors and does not do well with intact males. At all. So though V and I are beginning the process to get a fenced-in dog park in lower Chimborazo, only 1 of my dogs will truly be able to enjoy it.

I like to call it recognizing the limits of my Alpha pup and keeping both him and other dogs safe.

And for the record, we still walk through the park and yes, the dogs are leashed. I also pick up after them because I would find it very rude if someone else didn’t pick up after theirs.

L. Motley

here’s a novel idea. everyone leash your animal and enjoy the park. this is exactly what you would do through any other part of the city. if you have an issue w/ a leash, move to the county, buy some land and enjoy.

there seems to be a real issue w/ not going to extremes in this area. to the individuals that believe certain residents are above the law because they are the law….you are so sadly mistaken. there is a more severe penalty for knowing the law and outright throwing it away.

there is no leash length limit. for those that want to enjoy their dog running “free”, go buy a 30′ft. horse lunge line. they’re about $20 at the tractor supply store.

this is going to be ridiculously sad if because a few nosy nellys that like to follow people and take pics of their dogs off leash and tattle to the dog cop ruin a beautiful opportunity for everyone. please be law abiding and considerate and leash your hound and pick up the poop!

She does, however, make sure we know that she is a Reverend. So I suggest she realize that God’s creatures extend not only to dogs (I don’t have any anymore, and I miss them) plus other forms of life which our creator chose to give us.

Why should Church Hill residents have to practically “beg” for permission to walk their animals? It’s time those who live in this wonderful community exercised their power. Next election, vote for a different candidate who loves dogs and appreciates the fact that Chimborazzo and Libby should both be there for those who pay taxes, thus the Council Person’s salary.

Also, many of us need dogs for protection. A question I offer is: Why are some allowed to take their guns to Chimborazzo Park on weekends and fire them (hopefully into the air) and not be restrained? Are there any signs posted against doing this?

I don’t understand why people have forgotten we, the people should be served by the City/government. Not the other way around!!!

Lu Motley

I really enjoy walking my dog through the park, the view is wonderful especially at night. In the Vein Of Thoreau, I will continue to practice my quiet form of civil disobedience. I will walk my leashed doggy in the park, making eye contact with everyone I see, be they neighbor (with or without dog), visitor, tourist, police officer, park official, drinker, drug dealer, prostitute, homeless, whomever. They will see me; and, they will know I see them. I will greet them all with a smile. And they will know that the park is alive with good people and good dogs. They will know that the park is a good place.

There is just no more “renegade” off leash playtime in the evenings anymore. So people, please still take your dogs to the park, play frisbee, picnic, fly kites(although I tried and couldn’t get it up) and enjoy the park. It really is beautiful and a shame that is is so under utilized… especially now since most dog folks are avoiding. But again, correct me if I am wrong… leashed dogs are Aokay!!

I hope dogs are not banned from the park, as it should be a space to be enjoyed by all. And, I am pretty sure none of this would have come up if it were not for the number of dogs running unleashed.

Hopefully, we can all work out a solution now.

To reiterate what I said at the beginning, Chimborazo is huge and largely underused. I see no reason why dog owners should not be allowed to let their 4 legged friends play, under the right circumstances.

I think it is a great dialogue and even better that people are interested in what happens to our public spaces. I hope that we can come together as a neighborhood to support this “citizen- driven” project. SO doggie lovers and neighbors alike…let’s get our heads together to make something positive out of this discussion. We definitely can’t do this alone so, again, if you are interested in helping organize or just supporting the process- let us know. chimbodogs@hotmail.com

I wait to see a persons reaction via body language to determine how tight I keep my dogs. Since I am walking 3 more often than not, I try to avoid areas where they will get excited because I know I can’t control all 3 at the same time, especially my oldest.

This conversation is starting to get a little personal when the issue here is the dogs being off leash in a very public park. We hear you loud and clear that you want leashes to remain on but it was the animal control officer who spoke the loudest.

The funny thing is, or perhaps ironic maybe, I’ve walked with my dogs through the park very leashed every night/evening this week and it’s been void of visitors. We haven’t been letting our dogs run for almost 1 week and yet I still see no one and this is during our usual hour or sometimes right before or after. 2 women have been walking the park for exercise nightly and the dogs have never once given them a 2nd thought and 1 of the women has glared at me for having 2 pits out in public.

The issue is now moot anyway because we can’t go back to doing our “dog hour” without expensive consequences being served and V and I are trying to get the ball rolling for this fenced dog park idea.

Now the big question is, will all you leash strict peeps help us out in some way or just let out a sigh of relief?

Sorry, EcoGirl … YOU should move. You are the one breaking the law. And, if there are people over on the other side of the park, you should pack up and go. It sucks, but it IS supposed to be a dog-free park and it really isn’t too much for a neighbor to expect to be able to use any part of it free from dogs. (I think that sucks, too, as I have made clear … but there it is.)

I would go further and say that you should make it very, very clear when you come across others in the park that you are actively controlling your dog … shorten up on the leash and make him/her sit if approached. As the scofflaw, the onus is on you (and me).

What V and another CBO are doing are marks of responsible dog owners.

With the heightened concern about rabies, animal control officials say they’re trying to keep people and their pets safe… “With the way some of the people let animals roam, they could come in contact with a wild animal at any time,” says Sgt. Lewis Thompson of the Richmond police, “and sometimes when it’s dry out the wild animals get closer to the city.”

crystalball30(at)gmail(dot)com

We have decided to try for the lower Chimbo area since the “remodeling” they have in store for the park is the upper half and so many organizations are vying for a spot already and, honestly, we really need to be out of the way.

What we are going to need is various persons to help with fundraising and we definitely need an organizing committee to start meeting soon since we think it fair to include all of you, not just us few, in how and what happens.

When all is said and done, we need a friends group because we don’t want the dog park to turn into a free for all and want to make clear that people should still watch their dogs even while in a fenced area. We hope everyone will understand the same rules apply even inside the fence. Another idea we’re tossing around is to charge a nominal membership fee to help pay for upkeep. V is currently researching that as we’ve both noticed it works more often than not in other cities who have tried it. It will also give us a little more control over irresponsible dogs and their negligent owners.

Alas, this is what we need an organizing committee for!

So all those willing to help in any way, from fundraising, organizing and/or labor, please email chimbodogs@hotmail.com. We would appreciate any and all input that is coherently stated and of course realistic. Or you can email me. Whatever works best for you, just let us get the ball rolling!

John, good afternoon: thanks for contacting Rev. McQuinn with your request and concerns regarding the Dog Park for Chimborazo Park. A phone call was placed to Larry Miller at Recreation and Parks. They will be the ones that will make the recommendations on how to set up the park and what approvals will be needed.