Unfortunately, there is a big animal health concern here. First a disclaimer, I am not a vet, nor a ROMP person. But, I am a frequent user of the Franklin Terrace Dog Park and unfortunately have a dog that came dog with kennel cough after being exposed to another dog with the condition at that very park. I could point out the dog that had it, rough nasty sounding cough, heavy breather, if I saw it again. Basically, its a dog respiratory condition similar to pneumonia and tricky to deal with. Dogs are vaccinated for the condition, but that shot only covers a small spectrum of the 30+ known strains of the condition, according to my vet.
Funny, it can be contracted between dogs in only a couple of ways, direct muzzle to muzzle contact or sharing of food and water bowls are primary modes of spead! After dealing with kennel cough in my dog and keeping him away from dog parks and other dogs for the month he had it to prevent its spread, I would not let my dog within 25 feet of that water pan down at the park! I'd even consider tipping it over. Certainly whoever maintains the park should remove it.
A hand pump or water fountain, fine, but a community dog bowl is a really bad animal health idea. Users are already asked not to bring food and bring their own dog water and bowl if they want. Thats the policy we should keep and enforce.
Adam Sokolski
Longfellow
--__--__-- Message: 10 Date: Mon, 06 May 2002 23:13:55 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Question for ROMP/Park Board PeopleIn going past the Franlin Terrace dog park the other day, I noticed a large pan tied to the fence with water in it for the dogs to drink out of. Along side the pan was a partially full 2 liter bottle of water. Do any of the dog parks have drinking water available? When the Park Board was planning on setting up these areas did they ever consider adding drinking fountains to them so people didn't have to carry water & drinking containers with them? Given that the PB has drinking fountains and hand water pumps all over the city, it seems like adding them as standard equipment for the dog parks would not be a big deal. Jim Young Seward
