There is no dog park in the city of buffalo becasue the City cannot afford to build and most importantly - maintain- such a facility at this time. It would be a very unwise move considering that we are taxed so much already and our money is used so unwisely. Building it is not so much the issue as the long term maintaince and secuirty of such a facility - esp if there is only one. How will it be policed - who will pay for that? How will you keep dangerous dogs out?

A great idea for a few yrs from now when hopefully the city is more solvent.

Yes yes yes. Please please please use the money for a dog park. This is the best idea I have heard of in a long time. Currently, I am always trying to think of the best place to illegally let my dog off her leash, and this would be such a relief! I hate having to drive out to the suburbs and ask friends if my dog can run in their yards to stretch her legs. LaSalle Park is a good option, especially in bad weather, because the park is (sadly) often quite empty. But I am always aware that I could get a fine for letting my dog run. Great work Jay, Justin, and Sam!

DOG OWNERS UNITE! Surely the thousands of dog owners in Buffalo could organize and find solutions to establishing a great dog park in the city. Perhaps dog owners could take a primary role in creation and maintaining of a dog park with minimal city government involvement.

Buffalo is a very dog-hostile city compared to places with a younger, more educated population.

Many metropolitan regions that are Buffalo's size have several dog parks. In Buffalo, there's none. It's not so much because of the cost (fencing, benches, and a water line are about it), but because of neighborhood opposition from old farts, irrational fears over "liability," and the fact that few locals have even heard of the idea of dog parks. Besides, Jo-HEE-ayn (is every woman between the ages of 45 and 55 in Buffalo named that?) is probably afraid that her Shi Tzu or apricot toy Poodle would be eaten by Pit Bulls from "east of Main Street."

BCB - the idea of a private dog park is valid. Amherst/williamsville did just that recently - i think they finally got approval to use some town land for such a purpose. They had to raise the moeny though and form a group to administer and polics etc. Though not impossible - is unlikley in this City in just one neighborhood. If it is on City land you can't keep it a neigborhood thing. Quickly the whole city will know about and come to the park and it will be overwhelmed.

If somone had private land where you could "join" so to speak and keep some control on the space that would be great. Otherwise, without a series of dog parks throughout the city - just one will quickly become a disatser. There has been much work done on this topic already and there is a core dog group in the city already - i encourage anyone interested in this to not start from scratch and learn what has been done and what partnership already exist.

BTW, making Buffalo more dog-friendly means more than just a dog park, but also a major change in attitude - again, something that will be difficult given the stubborness of the area's citizens. Home Depot and Lowe's in many other parts of the country allows patrons to bring their dogs to the store, but not in Buffalo. Why? In Denver, a large number of retail businesses that don't serve or sell food allow customers to bring in twell-behaived furry friends.

Count me as another pro-dog park vote, but that should only be the beginning.

That's because one of Denver's biggest industries is dog food! Seriously though, dog friendliness is a big plus for urban areas. Renters, what is it like trying to find a dog-friendly apartment (that is nice).

I think a dog park is a terrific idea!

I love the idea of a dog park. However, the parks in the city are already poorly maintained. Just venture beyond the larger parks and you will see.

I hope the dogs like trash and garbage because the city parks are full of it. The maintenance of the city parks is a disgrace.

I often go to Delaware, Lasalle, and the Squaw Island parks, and they haven't been full of garbage. Which parks does 'moly' mean? Of course, it's the responsibility of park users not to throw trash. We really can't expect to have park employees constantly cleaning up after slobs.

The Rumsey Woods section of Delaware is heavily used as a dog run, and the owners appear to be quite good about cleaning up after Fido, btw.

I think the parks are in pretty good condition (at least the ones I am familair with in from Riverside to Downtown and isn't it the responsibility of Erie County to take care of the non-Olmsted parks in Buffalo or did they get transfered back to the city.

Plus it is not only people who make a mess. I have seen squirrels and sea gulls empty entire garbage cans as they look for food.

Rules and Dog Parks: Why can't we just put up signs around dog park areas that say blah blah blah at your own risk and get rid of all these rules and laws for liability. If you use this section of the park beware of dogs. If you get bite, well maybe you shouldn't have gone into that area. Either way it is a person to person problem.

Similarly for beaches, I hate this idea of NO swimming because there are no life guards. Let people swim at their own risk, if they are too irresponsible to figure out where their own limits are too bad. Why should we all be restricted because of the few?

No, Dan, every woman from 45 to 55 is not named Jo Ann; in this Catholic town, they're all named Mary, Mary Ann, or some other variation. Sheesh, everyone knows that!

But to get back on topic, if we fence off a dog park, who's planning on cleaning up all of the you-know-what? Will dog owners?

Dan just can't help his bitterness, like a guy who's still badmouthing his ex, 20 years later .... There IS a time to move on.....

BIAmod, Yes so many Mary Anns in Buffalo but hey wheres Ginger and Mr & Mrs Howl. Ok the skippers probably at the Marina and the Professor is probably at SUNYAB but Ginger and Mary Ann were galpals. Buffalo could use a few more Gingers and coconut creme pies.

and oh how nice it would be to see Mr Howl and Lovy strolling Delaware park again.

just look at Buffalo and we are every bit as much of a campy farce as that 1960s beloved TV show.

I posted a followup here, but it got deleted for some strange reason. All I said was that dog parks are mostly self-policing. If your dog poops and you don't pick it up, you won't make any friends among the other dog owners inside the fence. If you bring a Pit Bull, others will leash their dogs until they know it's a friendly pet and not a gangsta's attack dog.

Thanks "L" for your cryptic and inane comments. You still suck!

You Know what buffalo also lacked, a pooper scooper service. But I found one. DOODY FREE. For $9.99/wk, they come to my backyard and clear it free of Dog Poop. Give them a call today, 698-6939!