27 Responses to “dog park grand opening set for Aug.16”

1. posted by g at August 5, 2008 8:38 pm [#]:
   

   speaking of dog. anyone lose a german shepherd. my wife found one on Grace Street this afternoon. definitely looks like it has an owner and is well cared for. no tags though.

2. posted by Kathleen at August 6, 2008 8:48 am [#]:
   

   You did not say what color. A guy was driving around early this morning looking for a dog he lost. He described it as white and fluffy. About 40 lbs. They are house sitting on 31st Street (I think he said the 300 block), if anyone happens to see this dog. Sorry, that’s all the info I got.

3. posted by g at August 6, 2008 9:10 am [#]:
   

   definitely not white and fluffy. it is a german shepherd, looks to be purebred. if anyone knows of its owner, please let me know.

4. posted by lynnie at August 6, 2008 10:43 am [#]:
   

   My Boston Terrier Petey went missing from our West of the Boulevard home on July 2nd and recently a woman called us and said she found a Boston a few weeks back not far from our neighborhood. She said she took him home to her Church Hill home and he escaped the next morning. We’ve also hear he might have been picked-up by a homeless couple and is traveling around with them. If any of you have seen a black and white, adult male Boston Terrier, please call Lynn at 358-2953. Thanks!

5. posted by Crystal at August 6, 2008 4:23 pm [#]:
   

   Does the German Shepherd answer to Traveler? I know a guy on Clay Street whose GSD gets out on occasion but he had tags last I saw him.

6. posted by Ruth at August 6, 2008 5:16 pm [#]:
   

   There is some idiot woman who walks a mutt on a leash while letting the German Shepherd run. I’ve seen her walking them on Clay, yesterday in fact. I’ve explained to her that what she was doing was illegal and she doesn’t seem to care.

   You should let Animal Control pick it up so they have to pay to get it back.

7. posted by Karen at August 7, 2008 9:06 am [#]:
   

   Where is the new dog park located?

8. posted by john_m at August 7, 2008 9:13 am [#]:
   

   The Church Hill Dog Park is located in the lower part of Chimborazo Park.

   If you follow Broad Street east by Chimborazo, park right before Broad starts to go down the big hill. If you look down into the park from beside the octagonal building, you will be able to see the fences of the park.

   Here is a map that might be helpful.

9. posted by zeb from Fulton at August 8, 2008 8:46 am [#]:
   

   Well said “Ruth” from post #6. The “idiot woman” is not the only one in the Church Hill/Libby Hill Park area that believe they are entitled to walk their dogs off leash in full defiance of the law. My dogs are leashed when we walk through there. Quite often an unleashed dog runs up to ours and consequently our dogs feel threatened. All Hell breaks loose. Typically the owner will amble over amidst the chaos to retrieve their pet. Rarely, if ever is there any regret expressed on their part. Why should they? Along with their sense of entitlement they probably think my dogs are the problem.

   Now that the dog park is open there is one more reason not to let your dogs run free in the public spaces.

10. posted by Chewie at August 8, 2008 1:32 pm [#]:
    

    wait a minute zeb…your dog attacks my dogs and you dogs arent the problem???

    How about if my kid walks up to your kid and your kid hits him, even if your kid is on a child tether, I say your kid is at fault.

11. posted by Shannon at August 8, 2008 2:00 pm [#]:
    

    Dogs on leashes are threatened by dogs that are free. If you know anything about dogs, you know this. They are naturally going to be more agressive than if they had the leeway to move freely.

    I think that people should only have their dogs offleash in public if they have ultimate control of them – enough that they can stop them instantly from running up to other dogs, or people. It’s not cool to terrorize folks like the woman who posted in another thread about being deathly afraid of dogs. Neither is it cool to subject drivers to the experience of flattening an animal because your dog chased a cat without looking both ways, and you couldn’t stop him.

12. posted by Ruth at August 8, 2008 2:27 pm [#]:
    

    “Ultimate control”? Has anyone that viral video of the police dog bite a reporter in the face with the trainer sitting right next to it? The police dog was even used to show school children how well trained it was, but the officer who trained it couldn’t even predict it was going to bite the reporter!

    Bottom line: nobody knows how a dog, even their own, is going to react in ANY situation, whether with other animals or people. I don’t care how well you think you know your pet, you simply cannot predict its behavior. You are wrong, wrong, wrong.

    I confronted the idiot who walks her GS off lead when I saw it disobey her by chasing a neighborhood cat. She said her dog wouldn’t wouldn’t hurt it, but the cat doesn’t know that. The cat thinks its life is in danger. That would be like me chasing a person down the street with a butcher knife and then telling the judge that I didn’t mean it. Do you think he’d buy it and let me off, even if it was true?

    And look, Chewie, I see where you are going with the kid comparison and it just doesn’t wash. Kids and dogs aren’t enough alike to make your argument work.

13. posted by Lendo at August 8, 2008 2:38 pm [#]:
    

    “wait a minute zeb…your dog attacks my dogs and you dogs arent the problem???

    How about if my kid walks up to your kid and your kid hits him, even if your kid is on a child tether, I say your kid is at fault.”

    Dogs =/= kids
    bad analogy

14. posted by Shannon at August 8, 2008 2:49 pm [#]:
    

    Re: 12 – That’s why I would never walk my dogs without a leash. They’re instinctive, distractable, and far from overly trained. And I’ll admit that all day long.

    Isn’t this just another example of people thinking it’s okay to completely and obnoxiously invade other peoples’ space in public?

15. posted by Ruth at August 8, 2008 3:57 pm [#]:
    

    I think it’s another example of how some people are self-centered, self-consumed, and think only of the consequences that directly affect themselves.

    Genuinely thoughtful and smart people don’t do things like let there dogs run free because the possible consequences outweigh any reason to the contrary.

    …that’s called thinking.

16. posted by Bob at August 8, 2008 4:06 pm [#]:
    

    “How about if my kid walks up to your kid and your kid hits him, even if your kid is on a child tether, I say your kid is at fault”.

    Wrong, remember the leash law for dogs? Key word, LAW

17. posted by Di at August 9, 2008 8:49 pm [#]:
    

    RUTH Keep in mind Animal Control put dogs to sleep!

18. posted by Crystal at August 9, 2008 11:52 pm [#]:
    

    Di:

    Very true, however they also charge fines for people who let their dogs get out. That’s the only reason I turn dogs in if it looks like they’ll have a chance of being found. If you know you dog escapes the fence, either stay outside with it or fix the fence.

19. posted by Chewie at August 11, 2008 8:32 am [#]:
    

    I have lived in church hill for almost a decade. I have walked my dogs through parks during this time and never had an incident nor known of an incident where a dog off leash actually attacks anything. Meanwhile, most of you lived in yuppie suburban land because church hill was too scary for you. now you move in and throw a hissy fit because your dogs can not be controlled, even on leash? Because your dogs might bite my dogs when they amble over to say hi? And I am the spoiled one? If your dog can not be trusted on leash, it should be muzzled and/or trained.

    I would never take an aggressive animal out and walk it through an area full of people and other dogs. Leash or not.

    Yes, the dog park is out there. But how does a fence magically make it ok for your otherwise untrustworthy dog to play with my well mannered dog?

20. posted by Ruth at August 11, 2008 9:56 am [#]:
    

    Look Chewie, I’ve lived here for nine years, myself.

    Looking back over the posts, leashed dogs really don’t seem to be the point of contention here.

    A few days ago, I was stopped at the base of Jefferson Park and noticed a dog off-leash bolt across the length of the park. There was no one else in the park from what I could see, and maybe that’s why! Who would want to stroll through a park with dogs running around it? I was in Libby Hill park a couple of years ago, found a spot where there was no dog shit, and soon after sitting down, here comes a slobbery dog in my face. I wasn’t attacked, but I shouldn’t have to put up with the confrontation either.

21. posted by G 2tha P at August 11, 2008 10:46 am [#]:
    

    Post 19. I call bullshit. My on leash dog has been jumped 3 times by what their owners called a friendly dog. One owner had three dogs off leash and was surprised that his pack would attack. Then when he saw that my dog was on a leash, hey proclaimed, “oh that’s the problem your dog is on a leash.” My dog and I are following the law and we’re the problem? Is this Bizarro land? Is superman evil in this world? Do the police arrest do gooders and the fireman start fires? Come on!

    Poster 19 you demonstrate the same mentality of a drinker who says,” I know the DUI threshold is .08, but I know I can drink 10 beers and drive fine, fuck the law.

    You, my fellow citizen, say I know the law says my dog must be leashed; but fuck the law. I know fido is an animal, but I’m gonna let her run free. I don’t care that others are enjoying the park. I don’t care that Chimborazo is a national park and tourists walk the site.

    I inquire of you also what of those nicely coiled presents called dog shit your free roaming fido leaves? How do you know where they are to clean them up? Oh wait in Bizarro land dogshit is made of gold and we are lucky to step on it.
    What of the squirrels that your free roaming fido attacks and kills. In Bizarro land are the squirrels the members of Al Qaida who run bin laden’s dialysis and finances?

    Again I proclaim bullshit poster 19, there are many off leash dog attack stories in Church Hill and in other places.

    #19 if you are too lazy to be a proper dog guardian then don’t pick up the mantle, cause this ain’t bizarro land, it’s Richmond. In Richmond the law clearly states that dog guardians are to keep their dogs on leash when they are in public; and, you must clean up after the lovely animals. Stop playing the part of victim. Your self-righteous smugness doesn’t change the law, nor does it change your responsibilities as a canine guardian.

    The dog park people have worked very, very hard on a creating a great addition to Chimborazo Park. Go enjoy it. Let your fun loving friend run free there, not openly in the park. Let fido play with other free roaming fidos. When your dog is exhausted and it’s time to leave the Church Hill dog park, put the leash on fido and proudly walk her home. Notice how much she respects you for being a responsible pack leader.

22. posted by loribp at August 11, 2008 11:44 am [#]:
    

    Just a quick comment on Richmond Animal Control – things change from the pound of old — they actually have a cooperative relationship with SPCA and do not just kill dogs that are picked up. They are progressive. The SPCA evaluates and takes dogs from RAC, I believe every week?, and that makes room for more dogs at RAC — meaning that they don’t have to put them down… and they don’t have a set put-down day like some counties in the area and can therefore adjust to the situation when they have room — nobody needs to leave this life. It’s always sad to see a dog stuck at RAC or any shelter situation — but the people who are at the shelter love animals and try to find placement and foster situations constantly. I know they have connections at breed rescue and humane societies in the area. If your dog was at RAC because a neighbor called, it would be fed and sheltered rather than at the mercy of the elements — and you could go and pick them up instead of searching the streets. That being said, it’s a personal choice whether someone believes a dog free but lost is in a better position than at the pound but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend RAC as a potential choice if you see a dog in need — they won’t just kill the canine. The caretakers and decision makers at RAC love animals — if you doubt it, then go visit for yourself. Chamberlyne Avenue — not far from CH.

23. posted by Mel at August 12, 2008 4:50 pm [#]:
    

    From the pictures of the new dog park it looks like the fence is just split rail…which means that any dog under about 40+ lbs could squeeze right under it…at least my guy could, and will the second he sees a squirrel. Can anyone tell me if there is actual fencing closure at the new park…if not I’ll have to keep driving to Barker Field…

24. posted by john_m at August 12, 2008 4:52 pm [#]:
    

    There is wire mesh rolled along the inside of the encloses.

25. posted by Crystal at August 12, 2008 4:59 pm [#]:
    

    And the part of the mesh that is a bit higher off the ground (due to run off when it rains), there is a Great Wall of the Dog Park meaning several of the stones found throughout the park have been stacked to form a wall.

    We’ve had lots of small dogs remain safely enclosed over the last month, I promise!

26. posted by MEO at August 14, 2008 10:54 am [#]:
    

    As a dog owner, I feel very fortunate to live in Church Hill with Jefferson, Libby, and Chimborazo so close by. These parks however, are for EVERYONE, not just dogs. People, especially children, should be able to walk and play in these parks without stepping on shit or being confronted by a strange dog regardless of whether it’s friendly. I am frankly appalled at the amount of dog shit left behind by so-called “responsible” dog owners. I admire people who have put in the time and effort to train their dogs off leash, but I’ve also seen otherwise well-mannered trained dogs completely lose control and run out into the street to chase squirrels, so aside from being the law, a leash should always be used in the city. Fortunately, I haven’t had a problem (yet) when dogs approach my leashed dog, but know people who have been attacked along with their dogs in Jefferson & Chimborazo Parks. Oh and by the way, being respectful of public spaces and showing common courtesy to your neighbors has nothing to do with how long you’ve lived here #19. That being said, I would like to sincerely thank all the people involved with establishing the dog park. I can’t wait to take my dog there.

27. posted by Drew at August 16, 2008 8:23 am [#]:
    

    Perfect example….I was enjoying the dog park recently with several other knowledgeable, responsible pet owners when a young man was leaving the small dog park enclosure with his Pit Bull….Now, the guy has the common sense to to realize that his dog (a beautiful APBT) doesn’t do well with other dogs, so he kept him separated from our dogs as there was no one in the adjacent enclosure……This dog has a blast after playing all afternoon and is finally leashed and is walking out of the park when along comes a fully intact male Rottweiler OFF LEASH….

    What do you think happened?

    Well, as you can imagine, the APBT flips out and goes crazy….and of course, the Rottweiler responds and all hell breaks loose. The APBT felt threatened and just did what most dogs would do…..

    Totally unacceptable and completely avoidable if you ask me. Why the hell is the (old bald man in a pair of shorts for anyone who has seen him) guy letting his aggressive dog roam free in a public park? Isn’t this against the law?

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