Dog parks are good for mental health

I woke to Susan Steinmueller's piece about the possible conversion of William Grace Elementary to a dog-park.  The Farmington Hills council will discuss it this evening, and since I am facilitating my 12-year running women's empowerment group, I'll be unable to attend.  So I'll pitch my vote for why a bark-park is good for mental health here.

There is no shortage of research showing that the human-animal bond has enormous physical and psychological benefits. Blood pressure, triglycerides and stress hormones decrease, immune system functions increase, and the general sense of well being increases. That's indoors. Now add a lovely park with some benches where non-dog and dog owners alike can come to sit and watch, and the benefit is extended by access to other people, dogs and fresh air!

Have you ever watched a dog-park full of dogs playing? It quickly becomes similar to a sporting event. Dogs collect themselves into "chasers", "chasees", "sniffers" and "meanderers".  The chasers and chasees quickly created games of keep away and tag. Back and forth they gallop, at speeds that warm their human companions hearts (because we all know a tired dog is a good dog). Sniffers circle one another in a butt-sniff-do-si-do, where just a quick whiff tells them all about not only this, their new best friend, but also his or her family, brand of dog food, favorite toys, and all other members of the household. You'd think they had the New York Times Sunday book review in front of them, they're so enveloped! The meanderers tend to wander between human-companions, getting petted, hoping for milk bones, offering kind eyes and a wagging tail to stranger after stranger. In short, it's a delightful comedic sociological playground full of fun.

(I know the anti-dog folks will be concerned about poop.  Not necessary.  There's a code among owners.  If you don't pick up your dog's poop, you'll be pubically shamed once, and you'll pick it up forever after.  End of concern). 

Today's dog owners tend to view their dogs as family members, not just pets.  They are concerned not only about food and health, but about quality of life, play, stimulation, exercise and skill development. They spend money on health care, day care, pet products, and yes - bark park admission. Bark parks are a source of revenue, both in annual fees, and tickets for offenders. Homebuyers moving from towns with a bark-park want to move to towns with a bark-park. They frequent shopping districts where the shop owners leave water bowls out, and welcome well behaved dogs in. Our closest is West Bloomfield, but it's available to residents only. There are others in Ann Arbor, Clinton, Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge, Grosse Pointe, Howell, Lake Orion, Mt. Clemens, Pickney, Saline, St. Clair Shores and Westland. Stop by and watch the antics sometime.

If you're at the council meeting tonight, mention that Dr. King and her therapy-dog Paisley says a dog park would be good for the mental health of our residents and their canine companions.