Paw Prints Park at Sprinker Rec Center, Tacoma, WA

With Pierce County becoming more and more crowded and leash laws becoming more restrictive, we are seeking support from Pierce County residents to help with the creation of a dog park at Sprinker Recreation Center, in Spanaway as a solution for providing a place for residents to spend quality time with their pets. 

The dog park would be a fenced, off-leash area where people and their dogs can play together.  The park will offer dogs off-leash play areas where their owners can enjoy a park-like setting and the chance to socialize with other canines and their owners.  Dog parks are being established all over the country and offer a wealth of benefits to dogs, dog owners and the community as a whole.

Our park would be more than just "room to roam," the creation of our dog park....

Allows dogs to exercise and socialize safely. Puppies and adult dogs need room to run, and enclosed play areas permit them to do so while preventing them from endangering themselves and others (for example, by running into the path of an oncoming vehicle). In addition, dogs who are accustomed to playing with animals and people other than their owners are more likely to be well-socialized and react well toward strangers.

Promotes responsible dog ownership.   Our dog park would help prevent off-leash animals from infringing on the rights of other community residents and park users such as joggers, small children, and those who may be fearful of dogs. The park would also make it easier for the county to enforce its leash laws, as resident dog owners with park access have no reason to allow their canine companions off-leash when outside of the park.

Provides an outlet for dog owners to socialize. Our dog park will be a great place for owners to meet other people with common interests. The love people share for their dogs reaches beyond economic and social barriers and helps to foster a sense of community. Park users also benefit from the opportunity to ask questions of other owners and find solutions to problems they might be having with their pet.

Make for a better community by promoting public health and safety. Well-exercised dogs are better neighbors who are less likely to create a nuisance, bark excessively and destroy property. Their presence in the park, along with their owners, also helps to deter crime.

Provide a location for dog owners to train their dogs through obediance and agility training programs. The "Paw Prints Dog Park" Committee hopes to provide agility equipment and classes as well as dog obediance classes throughout the summer months.