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MORE FAQ's
(FREQUENTLY ASKED
DOG PARK QUESTIONS)
Q: IS THE DOG PARK GOING TO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP FEE?
A: Possibly. We're considering daily, weekend, and annual memberships, for example.
Q: WHY A MEMBERSHIP FEE?
A: A few reasons:
i) "VIRTUAL EMPLOYEE" - If we don't have a card reader that opens the gate, we either have to rely on "the honor system" for people to clean up after their pets and maintain the park, or we have to hire an employee to be there and check people in and out daily.
ii) RIFF RAFF -- We don't want the park to become a hangout or a place for gang members to bring "tough dogs," for example. We want this to be a fun, happy, and safe place for people and their pets. Memberships tend to keep out anyone who doesn't belong there.
iii) NO TAX DOLLARS SPENT -- Tax money will surely not be used to hire someone to be a gatekeeper for the park. If we don't raise enough money for the gate and card reader, we'll need to hire an employee (and fund that, ourselves).
iv) PROOF OF VACCINATIONS -- When people apply for a membership, they'd have to present their pet's vaccination and health records to us. We would maintain this information in a computer database. We'd have all records on file in order to keep EVERYONE'S PETS SAFE! Unvaccinated pets will not be allowed to come to the park. IF WE DON'T DO THIS "PRE-APPROVALCHECKING OF DOCUMENTATION," AN EMPLOYEE WILL HAVE TO BE AT THE PARK, CHECKING IN EVERY SINGLE PET EVERY DAY, AND READING THROUGH VACCINATION RECORDS REQUIRED OF ALL PARK USERS FOR EVERY SINGLE VISIT.
v) RESPONSIBLE USERS -- The park will have posted rules. Members (who have a vested interest and are the "dog park owners," per se are more apt to follow these rules and keep THEIR PARK perfect...and to make sure that others do, too.
vi) VANDALISM -- Parks with open admission often experience incidences of theft, graffiti, and vandalism. All of these problems require expenditures of money and time to repair and/or replace damaged equipment on an ongoing basis. We plan to have a very high fence and secure the mosquito machines (if we raise enough money for them), just in case.
vii) NEWSLETTER, T-SHIRT, PARK EVENT UPDATES -- Membership fees will surely include a newsletter subscription, a t-shirt, and possibly a one-time replacement of a lost gate key, for example.
Q: WOULD A DAILY PASS WORK DIFFERENTLY?
A: Yes. There would be no way to check shot records of one-time park users without an onsite employee. Based on statistics from other nationwide dog parks and their surrounding communities, pets coming to our park will probably be from upscale neighborhoods whose residents are regular park users who they take their pets to the vet for their shots. Also, our Committee's Veterinary Expert assured us that dogs with diseases are surely too sick to want to play in a park...and even if they are sick, they won't be at the park long enough to compromise the other dogs (who are documented as having their shots, anyway).
Q: WHY WOULDN'T A PERSON WHO DOESN'T VACCINATE HIS PET
JUST COME AND BUY A DAILY MEMBERSHIP EACH TIME?
A: This would be cost-prohibitive. We plan to make any membership fees conducive to people's coming to the park regularly. Membership is not a PUNISHMENT -- it's a safety mechanism for all pets and people using the dog park.
Q: WILL MEMBERSHIP MONEY BE SAFE?
A: Yes, VERY safe. The committee members don't WANT to be involved with the funds. Special rules will be set up pertaining to any monies; for example, all expenditures made will have to have approval of at least 3 key people.
Q: WILL PEOPLE ABANDON THEIR PETS AT THE PARK...TEMPORARILY?
A: The dog park will not be not a daycare center or petsitting service. We'll be happy to provide names of reputable services that pet owners can use. One dog park charges large fines (backed by the police) to people who abandon their pets for the day.
Q: WILL PEOPLE ABANDON THEIR PETS AT THE PARK...PERMANENTLY?
A: We sure hope not. There ARE creeps in this world, though, so yes, it COULD happen. If we have a locked gate, park presence (volunteers and park users), and high fencing, chances are remote that this will happen. If a dog IS dumped in the park, we can either contact Animal Services to pick it up (and the dog will be confined within our fenced park, so it won't be difficult for them to pick up), or we can find a foster home for it until a loving forever family can be found. If someone dumps a pet in our park, then we can be glad that our park has surely saved its life. At least it wasn't abandoned in rush-hour traffic, among predators, or sold to an animal lab, for example.
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We need sponsors to help us make the best dog park ever!
WILL YOU PLEASE SPONSOR THE DOG PARK?
E-mail: DogParkMiami@aol.com
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Q: WHAT DO I DO IF ANOTHER DOG SNIFFS MY DOG'S REAR END?
A: That's how dogs introduce themselves to each other (like shaking hands). Just pay attention to their mutual body language. They'll usually just sniff each other, then walk away from each other...or start to play!
Q: WHAT DO I DO IF ANOTHER DOG IS RUNNING TOWARD MY DOG?
A: Don't panic! Just monitor the situation. They'll surely start romping and playing! If they don't like each other, they'll probably just walk away from each other. Nothing to ever worry about! You'll have your pet's leash over your shoulders, so if you want to lead your dog into a different section of the park, leash it and walk to a different location. If there have been no growls or mean looks given by the dogs, just simply get your dog's attention and walk to a different location (or tell him/her by voice command to go elsewhere). The other dog will surely find another playmate.
Q: I'VE NEVER SEEN MY DOG SO ANIMATED! IS HE/SHE HAPPY?
A: You know your dog. Is he/she acting happy? Is he/she playing? Is he/she continuing the games...or sulking away, looking nervous? Off-leash dog parks bring out the happiness in pets! Your dog is probably ECSTATIC to be there! (You can imagine how well he/she will sleep tonight!)
Q: MY DOG'S SITTING DOWN, YAWNING. IS HE OKAY?
A: Most definitely! He's just taking a break. He's either yawning because he's tired, or because he's using "calming language" to tell other dogs that he wants to relax a bit. Dogs read each other's body language.
Q: THAT GIRL HAS A HAMBURGER IN THE DOG PARK! WHAT DO WE DO?
A: Politely remind her that food is not allowed in the dog park because it will cause the dogs to beg, then probably bicker over food. (The rules sign will say, "No Food Allowed," but park users sometimes have to politely enforce the rules.) Big dogs will simply knock her down to get to her hamburger, and we don't want that.
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AND FORWARD...
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FOLLOW ME TO THE DOG PARK!
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