Action line 80801 - Dog Parks Published Sept. 10, 2008 By Anonymous 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Complaint: There are more than 720 pets on this base and 50 to 75 percent of the animals are dogs. Working at the vet clinic has shown me that there is a very large group of dogs that are overweight, hyperactive, not properly socialized, and just need some extra exercise and "being a dog" time. For dogs to be healthy and happy they need a healthy lifestyle being able to exercise and play like dogs do, but Incirlik AFB does not have any safe place for people to take their dogs to play without breaking the leash law. Yes, there is the "Doggie Play Day" every other weekend on Saturdays at 7:30 in the morning at the park, but it isn't fenced in and dogs can and have taken off running into the wild blue yonder, plus most people don't want to get up to take their dog to a play day after a long week of work at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday. Yes, there are tennis courts that are fenced in, but the ground is so hard in there that dogs playing too hard rip up their paw pads. If you drive around through housing, you see nice big fields with nothing in them. What I propose Incirlik needs is this: Either: (A) one big dog park completely fenced in with trash cans, pooper scoopers and bags or (B) For every 100 houses or so have one small fenced in dog park in the area with trash cans, pooper scoopers and bags. If idea (B) were to be put in place, people with dogs that like to take their owners for walks instead of the owners walking the dog can easily access these parks not having to be pulled very far so the dog can get his "wiggles" out and socialize. Many owners have dogs that get car sick and can't drive across base to a dog park, but the easy access parks would be perfect for dogs that get car sick. All in all, dog parks would bring people and dogs together. Dogs would be happier, healthier and less likely to be abandoned due to size, hyperactivity, or training problems. What do you say? Response: Thank you for your interest in the health of our four-legged friends. As a dog owner, rest assured I want our animals to get their required exercise. However, it is a responsibility of the owners! Short answer: there are too many pitfalls so I'm afraid we'll not be doing these. Here's why: dog parks present some serious challenges. First, we have concerns about the upkeep of these facilities. It is easy to say "we will all take care of it", but who do I call when it's not? Think of it this way: we have problems with cleanliness and upkeep of our running track; a dog park would be much worse. Additionally, dog parks present the possibility of becoming a health concern if not well maintained. Lastly, dog parks are fun, but only for dogs that get along with all others. We cannot ensure all dogs are socialized properly. If dogs started fighting, we have no way to control the situation, as there would be no trained supervision. This would create an unsafe environment. Exercising together is a great way to bond with your animal. Daily walks bring not only fitness benefits but also increased sociability (There are other people out walking their dogs whom we socialize mine with all the time) while providing a more controlled environment as the dogs are leashed. Some basic exercise principles are the same for people and dogs. Start with a warm-up and end with a cool down. Avoid overexertion and stay hydrated. And of course carry a plastic bag so you can easily clean up after your pet! Exercising with your pet strengthens the bond between owner and our "best friend" while encouraging both to live a healthy life style. Thank you again for taking the time to write.