The November 18th Manchester Board of Directors meeting was a success! The dog park resolution was passed during the December 2 meeting, but without any appropriation of town funds. We will continue to fundraise! The dog park management details will be worked out in the following months. Our proposal made the paper! Go to the November 19 Journal Inquirer article here. Go to the December 3 JI article here.

Also, after the November 18 meeting, we were still able to go to Corey's Catsup and Mustard on Main St., where they kept the kitchen open for our supporters. Even given the late hour of our arrival, we were able to bring enough people and the owners donated to MDOG for the building of a dog park in Manchester. Visit our calendar to see what's next.

Your support is still needed. There are still meetings, fundraisers, and volunteer work to attend to. Please give us the help we need to help you get a park for your dogs. Stay updated on our activities by joining our Yahoo! Group.

The dog park project began in September, 2007 when two dog-owning Manchester citizens, Shirley Gronholm and Frank Salerno, attended a meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission to discuss the concept of a dog park.  The Park and Recreation Advisory Commission passed this motion:

Recreation Department Staff should work with a volunteer group to develop a proposal for a dog park in Manchester and return to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission with a proposal.

A public meeting was held in November 2007, over 70 residents attended from which six citizen committees were formed to provide input into the "Parks for Pooches" proposal.  This proposal was presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee in June, 2008.  MDOG, the Manchester Dog Owner’s Group, was formed on April 16, 2008 to promote and develop recreational opportunities for Manchester dogs and their owners.  MDOG will co-sponsor, manage and maintain the proposed dog park in partnership with the town.  The dog park proposal was presented to Manchester’s Board of Directors at their November 18, 2008 meeting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

MDOG is a group of citizens who advocate responsible dog ownership practices. The establishment of a dog park in Manchester is one of our top priorities because the dog park promotes the physical and mental well being of both the canine and human communities in our town. In addition to a dog park, we are also working to increase the number of canine recreational programs offered in our community. We began with the addition of off-leash guided hikes to the Manchester Recreation Department Catalog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are more than 700 dog parks in the United States, with more being established every day.  Connecticut has several dog parks, some with their own web sites.  A dog park can be any size, from 10,000 square feet to more than 70 acres.  A dog park can enclose forest, fields, streams and ponds.  It can be as simple as a wood-chipped lot, or it may have amenities ranging from gazebos to agility courses to water playscapes.  Most dog parks are enclosed by a fence so that dogs can safely romp off leash.  Many dog parks have separate areas for large and small dogs.  Dog parks are generally sponsored, managed and maintained by town or county parks departments, many with support from local resident dog owners’ groups.  Dog parks have posted rules and owners use them at their own risk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pet ownership is a positive aspect of our society.  Many studies have shown the benefits of pet ownership to the mental and physical health of people of all ages.  Taking a dog into a social situation provides a means for social interaction between people that otherwise may not be possible.  It is easy to start up conversations when a pet is present and many friendships begin in this way.  For some elderly people, an outing with their dog may provide the only contact with other people in their day.  For people with mobility problems, a dedicated dog-friendly area allows exercising of their dog without walking any distance.  For most dog owners, the opportunity to meet other dog lovers is a happy and rewarding experience, just as it is for their dogs to meet other dogs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allows dogs to exercise and socialize safely. Puppies and adult dogs need room to run, and enclosed play areas permit them to play while preventing them from endangering themselves and others (for example, by running into the path of an oncoming vehicle). In addition, dogs are social animals.  Dogs who are accustomed to playing with a diverse group of other animals and people learn better “social skills” and are more likely to be well-socialized and react well toward strangers.

Promotes responsible dog ownership. Dog parks prevent off-leash animals from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be fearful of dogs.  Dog parks also make it easier for a city to enforce its leash laws, as resident dog owners with park access have no reason to allow their canine companions off-leash outside of the park.

Provides an outlet for dog owners to socialize. Dog parks are a great place for owners to meet other people with common interests. The love people share for their dogs reaches beyond economic and social barriers and helps to foster a sense of community.  Park users also benefit from the opportunity to ask questions of other owners and find solutions to problems they might be having with their pets.

Makes for a better community by promoting public health and safety. Well-exercised dogs are better neighbors who are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively, and destroy property. The existence of a dog park in Manchester will reduce dog-related damage to ball fields, parks and other recreational areas in town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

According to the Town Clerk’s Office, there are 3,714 licensed dogs in Manchester and it is estimated that there are more unlicensed dogs in Manchester than there are licensed dogs.  The estimated 7400 dogs in town represent about 28% of the town’s households.  Manchester has created many parks, pools and athletic fields and a skate park for its citizens, serving a variety of recreational functions.  Many dog owners are now coming forward to request that the town provide a facility to meet their recreational needs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyone who owns or keeps a dog is held strictly liable under our law for any damage caused by the dog, irrespective of whether the owner or keeper was negligent in controlling the dog.

Section 22-357 of the Connecticut General Statutes states:

If any dog does any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper…shall be liable for such damage, except when such damage has been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog.

In 2006 the Trumbull Dog Owners Association conducted a survey of legal issues in area dog parks.  They researched town liability, the existence of lawsuits or threat of legal action against a town for having a dog exercise or off-leash area.  No locality in Connecticut, or nationwide that was contacted and/or researched by the Trumbull Dog Owners Association carries additional liability insurance as a result of having a dog exercise or off-leash area.  Liability for the dog park or off leash area is included under the town’s basic policy that includes parks and recreation: it is not a separate classification.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Parks for Pooches committee has proposed a 1 acre dog park located at Mount Nebo behind the Water Department building, a site which already has a parking lot.  The location would be cleared of brush (probably by volunteers), fenced and possibly surfaced with wood chips.  There would be separate small/older and large dog areas. There is a source of drinking water very near the proposed site. 

This is the northeast corner of the Water Department's fence.

This is the view into the proposed dog park from the parking lot between the baseball diamond and the Water Department.

Although there is already a path, we expect that some clearing will be needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before construction of the dog park, the roles of MDOG and the Town of Manchester will be described in a Memorandum of Understanding.  The Parks for Pooches committee has proposed that the town would provide primary maintenance such as mowing, trash removal, fence repair and snow removal services. 

MDOG would supervise daily activities at the site, ensuring that users obey rules and supervise and pick up after their dogs.  In addition, MDOG would be responsible for periodic top dressing of the bark mulch surface, report serious behavioral or other safety problems to the local authorities, and notify the Town of Manchester of major maintenance needs.  MDOG would act as the initial negotiator for resolving disputes involving exercise areas, and MDOG membership will include a veterinarian, a dog specialist, a member of the Board of Directors or Park and Recreation Advisory Board, a member of the Park and Recreation staff and an Animal Control Officer.

Please email mdog.amduke@yahoo.com with any suggestions for additional FAQs for this page. Thanks!