Dog Exercise and Education Park

According to some sources, 62% of Atlantic Canadian households have dogs. Unfortunately, in the Charlottetown area there are no areas where owners are legally permitted to exercise with their dogs without a leash. The P.E.I. Humane Society is committed to providing dogs and their owners the space they need to exercise, train and play.

The Benefits Of A Dog Exercise & Education Park

Dogs and other companion animals have become an important part of our culture and community life. Companion animals provide many benefits which are difficult to quantify in monetary terms, but which have important implications for the health and welfare of humans.

Research shows that dogs are more than just companions. They provide both physical and mental health benefits to their owners. The importance of dogs in society has even helped spawn a new field of study, urban animal management, which aims to ensure that animals are taken care of in the urban environment.

Off-leash recreational areas not only foster the strong historical relationship between dogs and people; they also contribute to urban animal management and the urban environment.

Benefits of A Dog Exercise & Education Park To Dogs

Studies have shown that dogs that exercise and are allowed to run freely are not as aggressive towards people as dogs that are under-exercised. Allowing dogs to have an off-leash area socializes dogs. It brings them in contact with other dogs and causes them to be less aggressive in each future encounter with dogs. Dog Parks improve the mental state of dogs. Many dog owners report that after a visit to the P.E.I. Humane Society Dog Park their dog is less agitated, more relaxed and in general nicer to be around.

Benefits Of A Dog Exercise & Education Park To Dog Owners

• The benefits enjoyed by dogs are also benefits to dog owners. A well adjusted, less aggressive dog is more enjoyable and easier to handle for the owner. In addition, the Dog Park benefits owners. Research shows that these benefits include:
  
  

• The Provision of a vital public space allowing people to meet and form the bonds of community.
  

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  Allows people to have the pleasure of watching their dogs at play.
  Contributes to the overall physical fitness of people by encouraging them to exercise with their dogs.
  Provides an opportunity for dog owners to enjoy the outside.

Benefits Of A Dog Exercise & Education Park To The Community

The P.E.I. Humane Society Dog Park also make dogs better members of their community. By providing socialization and exercise opportunities, the Dog Park can make dogs less aggressive, thus reducing the risks of dog attacks. In addition, well-exercised puppies and dogs are less likely to create a nuisance by barking excessively or destroying property.

Communities benefit in other ways that do not rest on the improved behavior of dogs. These include:

-   Promotion Of Public Safety

Designated spaces for dogs and their owners reduces the likelihood that dogs will be let loose in other recreational areas where they could infringe on the rights of other park users.

-   A Safer Surrounding Area

Dog owners have an interest in the safety of their community and can act as a neighborhood watch. Also, designated off-leash spaces reduce the resources law enforcement and animal control officials must spend on enforcing leash laws, allowing of them to devote their time to other areas of crime prevention and animal cruelty investigations.

-   Creates A Social Hub For Communities

Dogs often help people break the ice, allowing people who share interests to socialize while exercising their dogs. These interactions help neighbors to get to know each other and to build a sense of community. The social aspect of the Dog Exercise & Education Park also tends to enforce the basic rules of dog ownership such as cleaning up after one’s dog and always controlling one’s dog’s behavior. The area would provide a centralized location and help meet the special need of our community and those traveling here as the P.E.I. Humane Society is in the process of development the Dog Exercise & Education Area. 

© Copyright Prince Edward Island Humane Society 2005