Dog Parks we visit will be posted on this page with info and photos so check back often for updates!
1. Martin Dog Park in Aberdeen, NC
This is my Golden Retriever
Koa's 1st dog park visit on July 14, 2010. As you can see he is reading the rules.
This lovely dog park is located in Moore County area between Southern Pines/Aberdeen/Pinehurst areas - hidden right next to the WalMart! From what I understand in a brief phone conversation from the Director of Southern Pines Parks & recreation Dept is that this 50 acres plot of forested woods/paths land was donated to the town of Southern Pines by a generous doctor. The land was turned into a temp off leash dog park when the town found out that the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were making this land their home and so nothing could be built or basically no trees could be cut down due to the endangered species act.
another day at the park...
Another day at the park on July 22nd...
more dog friends...
PROS: Free public park, no admission, no dues. Off leash dog park! Lots of trees, paths, community board, parking. Complimentary doggie poopy bags. There is a hidden doggy oasis river area of clear running water in sand the dogs drink and play in. There are various benches/chairs/dog water bowls/gallon jugs of water throughout apparently donated by various dog lovers. Overall great dog park!
CONS: Not everyone picks up their
dogs poop so you might walk into a pile of poop that is
not your dogs poop! The park is NOT totally fenced in. No public restrooms for humans. No matter what dog park you go to - there are always going to be a few people who do not have properly trained dogs or do not supervise their dogs properly when off leash and those that have those more aggressive tendency dogs that should remain leashed! There are NO EXCUSES for your dog to behave aggressively! If you KNOW this then please be a responsible pet parent and do everyone a favor - keep your dog with issues on a leash please and hire a
dog coach/animal communicator to help you and your dog resolve unwanted behaviors!
UPDATES: as of Aug 3rd, 2010: I am in contact with the director of the Southern Pines Parks and Recreation Dept via email so the town council can be aware of things as well as the general public. I will be posting updates with my own personal findings on this blog page so we can all be more aware and basically be the towns eyes/ears.community watch dog per say when at the dog park! I felt the need for this contact to be made since I have had in such a short time 3 different dog/bad owner incidents occur at the dog park that warrant looking into as far as irresponsible dog ownership is concerned and some other items that should warrant attention as well as follows:
TREE STUMP CLOGGING RIVER: Someone or some persons have been blocking the hidden doggy river with a huge tree stump and cement bags off and on for probably the past week or so. It is there then it is gone then it is back again, no one at the park I have talked to with their dogs seems to know what the reason for this is but we are all very concerned about the cement bags and how they could damage the river flows fragile eco system, etc. Someone mentioned they had heard a nearby golf course complain they were not getting enough water as usual flowing through to them...
CIGG BUTTS: smokers are leaving their nasty little habit messes to litter the park, I also believe this is a hazard which a fire could potentially start in the woods! I think Moore County has a smoking law about this but must also check with my sources.
Dog Incident #1: Med/large size hunting type dog white with brown spots with bright orange vest and electric shock collar is not friendly with puppies or male puppies/dogs to be exact that are still intact (this is straight from owners mouth and my observation as well cause the dog growled terribly at my 4 month old puppy who was acting very well behaved.) After the orange vest dog snapped/growling in very aggressive manner toward my 4 month old intact puppy and I was checking my dog for any signs of injury and saying out loud this was very unacceptabl behavior the owner simply slipped away leaving the park without any apology when I was voicing my concern in a polite manner (hey guess what my vet advised me today my boy puppy should not be neutered until 6 months or older). Beware, dog is not always on a leash. Owner thinks they have dogs control with remote controlled device. Conclusion - AGGRESSIVE - NO RECALL TRAINING - the shock collar probably upsets it even more causing it to be that much more aggressive.
Dog Incident #2: HUGE very thick solid muscular tall black dog with small white chest markings short hair/possible Great Dane/Pit Mix. Overly rambunctious, non aggressive just VERY HYPER full of energy and oh so happy to be at the park amongst people and other dogs. The problem here is that the owners know there dogs energy level, find it amusing and yet still allow dog to run so wild amongst everyone that he is and has been capable of knocking over adult grown women and happened to stampede over my puppy leaving my puppy crying in pain and unable to walk nor move for aprox 15 minutes (I have witnesses) as I checked him for injuries and massaged his leg that was inoperable! The owners quietly slipped away without asking if my dog was OK nor offering to help carry my dog to car, no apologies, nothing. As soon as owners and their dog left particular area I was immediately told by witnesses that they too had been knocked over by this huge high energy dog taking the wind out of them and not being helped by the dogs owners whatsoever and so this particular dog with it's owners seem to have a reputation.
Dog Incident #3: Rottie Mix? Large breed dog. VERY AGGRESSIVE toward my Golden Retriever puppy around 5:30pm Aug 2nd; pet owner allows her dog off leash to wander and leaves dog unattended out of eyesight. This dog was seen with a giant sized Rhodesian Ridgeback attacking my dog along the path. My dog did nothing to provoke such bad behavior, my puppy saw the 2 large overpowering dogs approaching and gave the body language of I COME IN PEACE (that's when the dog lies down on the ground with belly to the ground). The 2 large dogs approached fast and furious toward my puppy who was leading me along the path as we were trying to get to the water hole area. I yelled loudly several times YOU NEED TO GET YOUR DOG ON A LEASH NOW! MY DOG IS BEING ATTACKED! There was no owner in site! My puppy cried in pain as the dogs lunged onto him pinning him down growling something furious! The Rottie Mix was the instigator and the more aggressive of the 2 large dogs: note: the Rhodesian was simply acting upon the negative energy of the Rottie Mix aggressive behavior. My stern forceful yelling toward the dogs upon my approach I believe turned the dogs reluctantly off my puppy and my puppy then scrambled to his feet leading me to the owner of the Rottie Mix. The owner had to hold the dog the entire time I was confronting them advising their dog had just attacked my dog and I was also simultaneously checking my puppy for injuries. The Rhodesian was not being held by anyone, there were 2 older men sitting on a bench and perhaps another big dog maybe black and fuzzy around too but kept it's distance and was not a threat, pet owner also unknown. Of the 2 men on the bench; one was quiet the entire time, one was another story all together which I will get to in a moment. Back to the women holding her aggressive Rottie Mix. her defence was that her dog was very vocal and my dog was submissive! When I told her I was a dog coach she said she has also worked with dogs for years and her dog is not agressive simply very vocal. We were not able to truly work things out because the entire time I had approached Rottie Mix dogs owner the rather large overpowering man of the two on the bench was immediately bullying me, yes you heard me right. An adult 60-70's something male bully verbally abusing me, name calling me, telling me to shut up to leave park and insulting me and threatening me with vulgar langauge. He would not shut up, it was unreal, the Rottie mix owner even tired to ssshhh him several times by entending her arm out to say to be quiet but he would not let up! He said he was Rottie Mix owners friend. He could not mind his own business. He clearly should have back away allowing pet owners to resolve a confrontation but instead he made matters worse and nearly impossible for pet owners to have a conversation as he was heckling and so this man seemed to have a NewYork accent and bad attitide. He must have been a bully as a child as well. I did manage to ask him what he did for a living in his past and he said Public Relations. He was clearly unstable and very mean. I am still comtemplating filing a report against this man as well as showing his mugshot I captured to the police! So not only was my dog attacked by an irresponsible dog owner I too was attacked by a grown up bully, verbally abused at the dog park! I had my iPhone in my pocket and only wish I had thought to turn the recorder on but everything happened so fast my only concern was making sure my dog was out of harms way and addressing the Rottie Mix owner. Neither the Rottie mix owner nor the 2 men claimed the other 2 dogs nor did I ask. As I was leaving however I remembered I had my trusty Nikon around my neck and managed to capture a photo of the verbally abusing man as well as the aggressive dog being held back by owner as well as their cars license plates in the parking lot cause they were the last 2 cars remaining, fools! I will tell you this much, one license plate is from Indiana and one is NC. One car is a earth toned SUV and one vehicle is a white 4 door and the driver must be a bad driver, enough said. The verbal abuser is a large built white male, 60-70's?, New York accent, Gray hair Elvis hairstyle. BEWARE! At this time I am unsure if posting his photo would be a violation or not as well as license plates. I will resaech/consult with the law about this..
2. Reservoir Park, Southern Pines, NC
PROS: Free public park. This is a lovely trail all around a lake/dam, some of the paths have built walkways over swampy marsh areas and look out points and places you can sit down to watch wildlife/ducks. Plenty of free parking. There is also a restroom facility and covered BBQ areas and a golf course nearby. People are jogging, pushing strollers and walking dogs at this park. Very clean area.
CONS: Dogs must stay on leash.
3. Weymouth Woods/Center, Southern Pines, NC
PROS: Plenty of free parking on site. Beautiful estate, many paths, horses riders, dog lovers and hikers can all enjoy daily. Garden area with benches and a lovely water fountain. Peaceful area, well maintained, friendly volunteers on site tending the gardens. Cool dog statues!
CONS: Dogs must remain on leash.
