Mutt Strutt supports future dog park

Dog lovers and their furry friends strutted in Sunnyside Park on Sunday to raise funds for the construction of Pullman’s first dog park.

Although Mutt Strutt fell short of meeting its $32,000 goal, Trevor Bice, a board of director’s member for the Whitman County Humane Society, deemed it a significant milestone for the organization’s fundraising efforts.

“We raised a little under $6,000,” Bice said. “I think it was a huge success for the first annual walk.”

Bice said the park will be completed around the fall of 2010, but mentioned this estimate is subject to change since the project is dependant on the community’s generosity.

Lori Ammons, a member of the Pullman dog park committee, attended the walk with her two dogs, Pawsley and Cinnamon. As a dog owner, she believes there is a huge need for a dog park in Pullman.

“The city put out a survey and 80 percent of the people who responded said a dog park was needed,” she said. “There is certainly a need for a dog park based on the volume of people and dogs in the area.”

Ammons mentioned there are a number of safety issues for people who let their dogs run off leash in Pullman.

“On average police write six citations per day in Pullman public parks to people who have their dog off leash,” she said. “There are other animals out there such a coyotes, hawks and owls that can endanger smaller animals. A hawk could pick up a tiny Chihuahua and eat it for dinner. Animals such as these do not tend to go where there’s a gathering of people.”

She also emphasized that there are other diseases dogs can pick up if they’re out in water sources that other wild animals use.

“They’re a family pet and you want them to be safe,” she said.

Alan Davis, the superintendent of parks and recreation for Pullman, said a dog park has not been built in the past because the city did not have ground that was conducive for such a project. He also mentioned that there are some negative aspects of having a dog park.

“There’s always been issues with people that let their dogs run free and don’t clean after them,” he said.

Located adjacent to the Fireside Grill, Bice said the future park will sit on five acres of land and will contain two fenced off sections, one for big dogs and one for small dogs. It will be fully grassed and landscaped with fountains and underground sprinklers and will feature various toys for dogs to play on.

The park will be open to anyone that wants to be a member and the cost, although not determined yet, will be very affordable, Bice said.

Ammons, who currently takes her dogs to the Moscow dog park, said a Pullman park would be much more practical and convenient.

“They’ve (Moscow residents) been really hospitable to a lot of people from Pullman,” she said. “Their dog park could use a break from all the activity and its 40 minutes from here so it would be nice to have something closer by.”

Heather Kelley, the event coordinator of Mutt Strutt, said WSU students will largely benefit from the construction of the park.

“I knew lots of friends who have dogs and they’re stuck in the apartments, they don’t have a yard to run around in, they don’t get the chance to get out and play with other dogs,” Kelley said.

Bice believes the park will be advantageous for both dogs and people.

“Other than the benefits to dogs, the benefits to this community are huge,” he said. "The community is full of dog lovers. It will give us a place to gather and become friends.”