Neighbor Julie–who often attends dog park meetings–made it to Sunday’s “emergency” meeting regarding Dupont Circle’s 17th Street dog park. Here is her report.
Attendees included Mike Silverstein, ANC 2B/Dupont Chair, Bob Meehan, ANC commissioner, board members from Circle Dogs DC, Shaw Dogs Co-Chair Andrea Doughty, Sgt. John McDonald of PSA 208, and many community members and dog owners. The meeting was, in content, essentially a repeat of the meeting early in October. No new issues were raised, there was a review of the three main issues and discussion about proposed solutions:
- The operating hours of the park and the sporadic locking/unlocking of the gates. At present, it has been agreed that the currently posted hours will stay in effect until the other issues are resolved. Circle Dogs DC has solicited volunteers for their “key committee” and the locking and unlocking of the gates should be observed more regularly and reliably.
- The neighbor’s complaints about the noise of excessive barking. This issue was stickier. The neighbors are very hot under the collar about the noise of “constantly” barking dogs. On the other side, some dog owners feel that an expectation of no barking is unrealistic. It was proposed that signs be posted indicating that excessive barking be curbed.
- Health concerns regarding the regular spraying of the park with antibacterial spray. The Circle Dogs DC board members indicated that this is no longer an issue as the park is regularly and thoroughly sprayed at least once a week.
There was a lot of discussion regarding better self-management of the dog-owner community and ways that can be achieved. There will be a follow-up meeting hosted by Circle Dogs DC to flesh out additional rules for the dog park and ways to enforce them. The date of this meeting is not yet set.
