A vast majority of the pet owners questioned said having a pet provides physical and mental benefits.
Our understanding of the physical and mental needs of our dogs have changed over time.
They’re a species rooted in being social.
“Dog parks are community spaces that bring out all types of people with one common denominator: dogs.
Because of that, weve started to include more of them in our park construction.”
(Its grass is a high-quality synthetic turf. )
A lot of seniors have a dog or a cat.
Caring for a pet is part of their daily lives.
Having a dog park here was a natural addition.
There’s a fenced area within the parks for senior dogs and shy dogs.
The community has miles of sidewalks and designated walking paths.
Since moving to SaddleBrooke, Brooks has had two rescue dogs.
The first was Penny, an older Poodle-Schnauzer mix.
It took five visits to the dog park during slow times for Penny to get comfortable.
The dog-designated section features open fields, six miles of trails and a river for swimming and playing fetch.
Judy and Jim Trockel have been the parks stalwart stewards for nearly 30 years.
It’s a quality-of-life issue.
Judy Trockel, co-founder of Serve Our Dog Areas (S.O.D.A.)
We fought to keep it in the park, explains Judy.
We formed a task force called S.O.D.A.
Using what Judy calls old-school methods of advocacy, the S.O.D.A.
task force and local residents mailed more than 8,000 postcards asking the county executive to save the dog park.
The work paid off with the council voting unanimously to include a dog park.
Parking is convenient, theres lots of room and it’s flat.
“The dogs can get fully tired out in one circuit.
Then they go home and sleep.
When your dog is happy and relaxed, you’ve got the option to be too.
Huskies are strong, high-energy, working dogsandescape artists.
Huskies are not a dog you might just turn loose in the backyard and forget about, says Don.
Many of us seniors bring our dogs to the park at about the same time every morning.
Its nice to be able to spend time talking with people my own age with similar life experiences.
Patty was particularly grateful for the park during the pandemic.
Going to Marymoor got us through the COVID lockdowns, she says.
Its also great exercise.
It has equipment for dogs to play on, such as a raised platform for jumping and a see-saw.
Residents can also walk their dogs along nature trails on the 53 surrounding acres.
The program’s services include pet walking, bathing and feeding.
Sometimes, its the most important part of their decision to move in.
Our sister community in St. Petersburg contacted us to ask how we built the dog park.
Because of our parks success, they built one, too.
The dog park is good for people’s well-being as well as the dogs well-being, says Wilson.
The goodwill benefits the whole community.
Its great socialization, and especially for elderly people who are alone.
“This is kind of a first-time for me.
It’s a love that you just develop,” says Farr.
“They’re just like people, really except with tails.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORAmy Lennard Goehneris a freelance reporter and writer.
She is a former staff member ofTimeandSports Illustratedmagazines.
