A visit to a canine park for Duke, my pit bull, has turn into a weekend staple.
We reside in a one-bedroom house Downtown. So each time he wants some — ahem — reduction, a trip down an elevator and a walk among the many busy streets are required, and Duke can seem annoyed as he sniffs concrete sidewalks and brick buildings in search of a stray patch of grime or shrub to do his business.
It’s in all probability not the most effective residing association for the excitable pup. So once I get a day without work or a later begin to my workday, Duke and I are usually discovered on the Rio Grande Triangle Dog Park, the place Duke will get unleashed and dashes backwards and forwards, kicking up a cloud of mud to mark his territory and jostling with the opposite dogs.
It seems the Duke City is an accommodating place for Duke and his canine associates.
“The City of Albuquerque is one of the best cities in the country for dog parks,” Parks Director David Simon instructed me. “Our goal is to play with the big dogs. And to at least crack the Top 10.”
Statista, an organization that makes a speciality of market and client knowledge, in 2021 ranked Albuquerque as fifteenth within the nation when it comes to off-leash canine parks per 100,000 residents. The metropolis of Albuquerque’s web site exhibits there are 14 fenced canine parks scattered all through town.
And a complete new litter of canine parks is on the horizon.
Simon stated there are plans to build 4 extra canine parks all through town as a part of bigger renovation efforts for the native parks.
There will in the end be canine parks constructed at Wells Park, Phil Chacon Park, Vista Del Norte Park and Juan Tabo Hills Park, Simon stated, including that town deliberately spreads the canine parks throughout town so residents have equitable entry to them.
Simon stated the parks enhance the standard of life for residents, whether or not they walk on two legs or 4.
“There are a large number of dog owners in our community. And dog parks helped serve our residents, they improve the quality of life for dogs and their owners,” he stated. “And they are points of community contact where people come together to be with their pets. … When it comes to dog parks, we’re punching above our weight class.”
Of course, that’s to not say there aren’t some drawbacks. I went to my standard canine park close to Downtown on Monday night — in search of to talk with some people about their experiences. Duke entered and began sniffing and working round with a number of the large dogs.
One bigger canine, particularly, bit a small canine on the neck, then began barking and scaring a puppy. The offending pooch’s proprietor seemed to be rip-roaring drunk and began verbally harassing the girl who owned the smaller canine who was bit within the neck.
“Rat (expletive) dogs,” the person shouted concerning the small dogs, saying they shouldn’t be allowed within the park.
Needless to say, the ruckus despatched many within the park to the exits.
A visit to the canine park at North Domingo Baca Park over the lunch hour Tuesday was a extra typical expertise.
Alan Osgood was walking laps across the park, throwing tennis balls for his dogs — Gus, Ruby Roundhouse, Jack and Ginger — to fetch. He tries to present his dogs a visit to the park a number of occasions every week. He stated in the event that they go a number of days with no go to, they’ll get anxious and excited and should chew up gadgets round the home.
“I’m here on a mission, usually because I have to come on my lunch break,” he stated. “So I’ve got 30 minutes to get them worked out. I’ve got four dogs. So I’m doing laps.”
Meanwhile, Cyndy Scanlon rested on the bench within the shade with Sadie curled up beside her, whereas Sadie and Haru performed close by. Scanlon takes her grandson’s dogs to the park twice every week when her grandson goes to work.
“They were so thrilled when I went to their house today because it’s been a while,” she stated. “They start barking when we drive up and they see the park. They’re excited and they can’t wait to get out.”
UpFront is a Journal information and opinion column. Ryan Boetel may be reached at [email protected].
