Responsible Dog Owners
04-19-2009, 09:45 AM
We need your vote. Please go to the Dog Park Poll to cast your vote.
From the group of 35 or so residents who were present at the "Dog Park Focus Group" 12 residents volunteered to take the next steps to review:
1. The needs of the community as they relate to dog parks.
2. Current Sites
3. Concerns/Challenges
4. Funding sources
Unfortunately there were only two non-dog owners present at the meeting who volunteered to defend non-dog owners. There's not much we can do if we don't get the participation.
Anyway, here is a brief overview of what's going on.
On one side you have the Dynamic Dog Club (DDC) who wants TV to build one large "5 star" type facility equiped for dog training. Location to be determined. DDC addressses the possiblity of charging a fee to the residents for its use. RDOG opposes this position primarily because DDC does not address the need for parks local to our residents (auto and/or golf cart access). RDOG contends that there are already 3 parks in the area that address training. Doggie Doo Run Run which has 15 acres of space to train dogs, Lady Lake Dog Park which has 5 acres for the same purpose and a new facility, PSD located in Oxford designed and equipped for both large and small dog training purposes. This facility is also 5 acres, has kennels, and indoor air conditioned space for training. Each park charges a fee for use and welcomes dog training clubs.
On the other side you have the Responsible Dog Owners Group (RDOG) who want to create, on already owned District property and close to EMS, Water, Phones and Restrooms, neighborhood dog parks. At the very least one in each of the remaining counties (Marion & Sumter). These parks would be built in a similar design to the Paradise Dog Park. RDOG has already submitted a plan regarding staffing, an Ambassador Program made up of residents, and addresses ongoing maintenace. We have taken into consideration our neighbor's privacy and tranquility. These parks would be concealed in some fashion to the public's eyes and away from resident's property. These two additional parks would give residents a local, to their homes, place to take their dogs to socialize and exercise off lead, without using neighboring property and common areas for dog walks. We can't guarantee that all dog owners will use the parks, however, the parks will be there for their use and enjoyment. We currently have well over 300 signatures of residents, both on the north and south sides of 466, who want dog parks.
If you have any emotion at all regarding this subject we need your vote. Please respond whether you are in favor of a 5 star facility, a local dog park or no dog parks at all. Please be specific so that we fully understand you vote. Our next meeting is on April 20th, Monday so your input is needed today. Please respond to this forum or you may contact me directly through TOTV or responsibledogownersgroup@embarqmail.com Thank you for participating. To most this may not appear to be a serious issue, but the fact remains we have a lot of neighbors that do not want dogs in or around TV. We want to be part of the solution, not the problem. Again, thank you for your vote.
Karen Tynes, President
RDOG
750-1627
From the group of 35 or so residents who were present at the "Dog Park Focus Group" 12 residents volunteered to take the next steps to review:
1. The needs of the community as they relate to dog parks.
2. Current Sites
3. Concerns/Challenges
4. Funding sources
Unfortunately there were only two non-dog owners present at the meeting who volunteered to defend non-dog owners. There's not much we can do if we don't get the participation.
Anyway, here is a brief overview of what's going on.
On one side you have the Dynamic Dog Club (DDC) who wants TV to build one large "5 star" type facility equiped for dog training. Location to be determined. DDC addressses the possiblity of charging a fee to the residents for its use. RDOG opposes this position primarily because DDC does not address the need for parks local to our residents (auto and/or golf cart access). RDOG contends that there are already 3 parks in the area that address training. Doggie Doo Run Run which has 15 acres of space to train dogs, Lady Lake Dog Park which has 5 acres for the same purpose and a new facility, PSD located in Oxford designed and equipped for both large and small dog training purposes. This facility is also 5 acres, has kennels, and indoor air conditioned space for training. Each park charges a fee for use and welcomes dog training clubs.
On the other side you have the Responsible Dog Owners Group (RDOG) who want to create, on already owned District property and close to EMS, Water, Phones and Restrooms, neighborhood dog parks. At the very least one in each of the remaining counties (Marion & Sumter). These parks would be built in a similar design to the Paradise Dog Park. RDOG has already submitted a plan regarding staffing, an Ambassador Program made up of residents, and addresses ongoing maintenace. We have taken into consideration our neighbor's privacy and tranquility. These parks would be concealed in some fashion to the public's eyes and away from resident's property. These two additional parks would give residents a local, to their homes, place to take their dogs to socialize and exercise off lead, without using neighboring property and common areas for dog walks. We can't guarantee that all dog owners will use the parks, however, the parks will be there for their use and enjoyment. We currently have well over 300 signatures of residents, both on the north and south sides of 466, who want dog parks.
If you have any emotion at all regarding this subject we need your vote. Please respond whether you are in favor of a 5 star facility, a local dog park or no dog parks at all. Please be specific so that we fully understand you vote. Our next meeting is on April 20th, Monday so your input is needed today. Please respond to this forum or you may contact me directly through TOTV or responsibledogownersgroup@embarqmail.com Thank you for participating. To most this may not appear to be a serious issue, but the fact remains we have a lot of neighbors that do not want dogs in or around TV. We want to be part of the solution, not the problem. Again, thank you for your vote.
Karen Tynes, President
RDOG
750-1627