Man’s best friend receives new place to play

Dogs and dog owners all over Bloomington and Monroe County will have a new place to spend time together. On Saturday, Karst Farm Park is set to open the new Karst Dog Park, sponsored by Canine Companions. \nAccording to a press release, the goal of the dog park is to “provide a safe and clean facility with social opportunities for dog owners in an off-leash environment.”\nThe park is two acres long and consists of two separate enclosures for the dogs, one being 1.5 acres for bigger and more active dogs and the remaining half acre for smaller or slower dogs.\nMonroe County Parks and Recreation spokesperson Kelli Witmer said the opening of the park has been a long time coming and has been in high demand for some time. She is very optimistic about the perks and attractions the park will bring. \n“We’ve been working on it for 10 years. It was made possible when the Canine Company gave us a gift of $50,000,” she said. “There are an abundance of dog owners in Monroe County who could use \nthe park.”\nThe park will be packed with safety precautions as well, Whitmer said. In addition to the separation of big dogs from smaller ones, a healthy number of security officers will be patrolling the park to prevent any kind of altercation between aggressive dogs (although if your dog is knowingly aggressive, it is not welcome). Also, there will be water provided for both the dogs and the owners, big boulders for dogs to play on, as well as shade and landscaping.\nWitmer said owners don’t need to worry about their dogs or themselves, well, finding their feet dirty.\n“There will be separate spray and poop stations for all of the dogs to poop in,” she said.\nWhile the dog park is something new and fun to the area, some still have questions. Many were brought up by Delilah’s Pet Shop manager Lesli Miller. As an owner of six dogs, she feels knowledgeable when it comes to man’s best friend.\n“The dog park itself is a wonderful idea,” said Miller, “though there are lots of environmental precautions that must be taken.”\nMiller expressed concerns about unknowingly aggressive dogs, checking for shots, the cleanliness of the water drank by the dogs and the prevention of dogs from escaping from the park, among others. \nAll dogs are required to have had vaccinations for rabies and bordetella, and have the DAPP vaccine, which prevents distemper, adenovirus (canine hepatitis), parainfluenza and parvovirus. \nTo keep dogs from escaping from the park, the area is caged in and there are two separate gates, one an entrance and the other an exit. That way, no dog can dart out into the street while another is coming in. Infants and children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the park for safety reasons. One-year memberships are available at an annual fee of $75 for a family’s first dog and an additional $50 for any dog after that.\nSophomore Jen Beckwith owns a black Labrador puppy and welcomes the idea of a \ndog park. \n“I think it’s a great idea,” Beckwith said. “I would definitely take my dog to the park.”\nDespite Miller’s concerns, she still feels the park could be a success.\n“As long as the correct precautions are taken and nothing falls through the cracks, I’m all for it,” she said.