Chandler dog park draws complaints

by Sandra Haros/KTAR (November 10th, 2009 @ 6:18am)

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Some Chandler residents were poised to tell the city Parks Board Tuesday that they want something done about the Shawnee Bark Park.

Neighbors of the dog park, near Alma School and Warner roads, claim it's noisy and smelly.

"I've put up with it for eight years," said Wayne, who said the park is within 30 feet of his back gate.. "Every morning, especially on the weekends, it starts at 6 o'clock in the morning, 5 o'clock in the morning in the summertime."

Wayne said the barking is constant from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

"If you think about it, what kind of an idiot would put 50 barking dogs out there in somebody's backyard?" Wayne said. "It doesn't make sense and that's what they did."

The Parks Board has suggested shorter hours and locking the gates after the park closes. Wayne said that's not the answer.

"Shortening hours won't do anything," he said. "It's just a Band-aid on a ruptured wound." The answer, he said, is for dog owners to control their pets.

"They don't understand that nobody hates their dogs," Wayne said. "They're not doing their part. They're not controlling the dogs, they're not stopping their barking. All they have to do is train them properly... That would solve everything, if they would just simply use some common sense, common courtesy approach to this. But, they won't."

On the Net:

• www.chandleraz.gov

Last 5 Comments

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  Part two

  ArizonaNative1955

  The Shawnee Dog Park was created due to neighbor demand. A petition actually, so the two complainers are a tiny minority. They do however do seem to make it to all the governmental meeting. This is where you can insert the music from the wizard of OZ where the evil witch says and "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!"

  49680
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  There is always one

  ArizonaNative1955

  That park is right next to an elementary school. You move next to a school and a multi use park and then ask the government to restrict the rights of everyone else. REALLY? Who would not like to live next to a public park? I bet you would list that first when selling your home.

  49679
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  everything

  jmassagli

  in moderation some of you people arent just bad parents to kids but animals as well . if youre dog is being obnoxious do something but yea otherwise a dog will bark. its like when i take my kids to the park i still watch them. i dont just take them there and lets the park fend for itself. there is some responsibility . also pick up your dog s*%^.

  49669
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  It's a dog park!

  Melissa T

  How long has the dog park been there? Which came first - the park or the houses? If the dog park was there first, then the dog park can do what it wants. If the opposite is true, then I can understand the homeowners' annoyance. HOWEVER, News Flash: It's a dog park! There is going to be barking! Dogs bark - especially when they are playing. It's a different story when it's your neighbor's dog that barks constantly, but in a dog park, barking is part of the package.

  49663
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  Woof

  PCUB

  Woof Woof, Bark Bark, Woof.... Translation.. The people who complain about the park make a lot of noise and smell like cigarettes..

  49655
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