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Dog Park Idea Revived

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 April 2006, 09:01 CDT

By Erica Cordova, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Apr. 5--If Nancy Ormsbee and her husband, Arnold Meardon, had their way, there would be a dog park in Eldorado.

Ormsbee, who has lived in the community for 10 years, worked with a group of community members about nine years ago to get an area set aside where dogs could run free, but the Eldorado Community Improvement Association board rejected the idea.

However, the idea was revived a couple of months ago after an unleashed dog badly bit Meardon's hand and injured their border collie, Lucy, in their yard. That led the couple to write a letter on the issue to the Eldorado Vistas newsletter.

"I feel very positive for the need for a dog to exercise," Ormsbee said. "It would give the community a handle on what to do with loose dogs" and give owners an alternative to letting dogs run in the greenbelt.

As a result, the board has asked its finance committee to revisit the idea of a dog park for the community.

The board's president, Jeanne Klein, said the association is looking at a dog park in unused open space next to the community center soccer field. The association's staff has determined that insurance premiums would not be affected.

"Most people in Eldorado own a dog -- at least one," Klein said. "Communities have (dog parks) because people believe their dogs need to socialize and run free. That would be a nice addition to the community."

Klein said she has received about a dozen phone calls or e-mails from residents who are either interested in having a dog park or are concerned about dogs running loose. Klein and Andrea Cohen, another board member, put together a pledge last month for "responsible" dog owners to sign.

Cohen was threatened by a loose dog a couple of months ago. Her partner, with whom she was walking at the time, had to kick the growling and barking dog to protect them. The dog's owner, who was riding a bike, "allowed the dog to aggressively charge us twice while he did absolutely nothing," Cohen said. "The dog made physical contact. It was kind of scary."

Cohen reported the incident to county animalcontrol authorities, who looked for the bicyclist and dog but could not find them.

Besides circulating their pledge, the two board members are asking that residents keep their dogs on their property, not let them bark when people are sleeping and clean up after them in public places. Dog numbers Santa Fe County Animal Control Responses in Eldorado from January to March, 2006: Dogs found running at large: 25 Dog bites: 2 Vicious dog attacks: 0 Barking dogs found: 5 (including 4 strays) Injured animals: 1 General service calls: January, 23; February, 12; March, 10 January to March 2005: Dogs found running at large: 33 Dog bites: 3 Vicious dog attacks: 1 Barking dogs found: 1 Stray dogs found: 3 General service calls: 52 Cohen said she would rather walk her dog in the neighborhood than use the dog park, but she still thinks the park would be a good idea. "I think it's good for Eldorado," she said. "And it would be nice to have an open space for pets to roam, a designated space for off-leash pets." Erica Cordova can be reached at 490-2507 or at ecordova@sfnewmexican.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Santa Fe New Mexican

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Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

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