With roughly 9,000 dogs registered in Hudson County last year – and that’s not counting the “undocumented” animals – it’s no surprise that dog runs have become social and recreation centers for local residents.These fenced-in patches of paradise in local parks give animals a chance to “unleash” and run wild. But they also give pet owners a chance to develop a culture all their own, thanks to their furry friends.
Pointers to Pomeranians
At Hoboken’s Church Square Park, a plethora of dogs and people prove that this is the place to be at the end of a long workday. Dogs of all sizes, from pointers to Pomeranians, roam the grounds while their owners sit and chat. Despite the occasional growl or yip, the dogs seem to get along. And judging from the snippets of conversation coming from the benches (“Aw, how old is this little guy?” … “So what do you do for a living?”), the people do too.
Randolph Vargas of Hoboken has been bringing his 6-year-old pit bull/Staffordshire terrier mix, Foxy, to the Stevens Park dog run near the waterfront for about three years. While Foxy enjoys the fresh air and exercise, Vargas is content to sit on a nearby bench and talk other dog owners while the pooches interact with each other.
“It helps get people together,” he said, adding that dogs are terrific icebreakers for strangers. He’s met a lot of nice people there, he said. He also says that watching Foxy and the other dogs serves as a form of entertainment
“They’re like children,” Vargas said, watching two boxers squabble over a rubber ball. “They fight for a toy, then make up.”
Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, one of the driving forces behind Bayonne’s dog run (located at Mayor Dennis P. Collins Park on First Street), believes that dog runs enrich the lives of both pets and their owners.
“I think dogs are social animals, just as people are social animals,” he said. As a member of the Hudson County Animal League and the owner of a pair of Shih Tzus, Chiappone added that he’d like to see more dog runs spring up throughout the area.
Mayor of the dog run
Pam Starita of Bayonne, a former secretary, has been bringing her dogs Judge and Sammy to the Bayonne run since 2001. She’s become so involved in the upkeep of the park that other dog owners refer to her as the “Mayor of the Dog Run.” Starita has developed very close relationships with the pet owners that she’s met there.
“I have met the greatest people of my life because of this dog park,” Starita says. “We go out for each others’ birthdays, Christmas – it’s great socialization for the people and the dogs. We’re crazy about our dogs, and we have a good time.”
While Starita considers many of the dog owners who visit the park to be her best friends, other patrons prefer to keep their relationships strictly dog-related.
Joan Hennings, Bayonne’s crossing-guard supervisor, and her dog Tiger have been coming to the run for three years, but she rarely sees the other owners outside of the park. However, she says she’s made many casual friends through the dog run, some of whom have gone out of their way to assist each other in times of need. For example, when Hennings’ husband passed away last fall, one dog owner took the time to look up her address and send her a sympathy card – a gesture that did not go unappreciated.
“You know, that meant so much to me,” Hennings says, adding that the routine of coming to the dog run every day has helped her and Tiger cope with their loss.
Dog runs also benefit the larger community. Children without pets often visit the Bayonne dog run, asking owners if they can pet and play with their animals. The animals enjoy the extra attention, and the children learn the proper way to approach and care for dogs.
Local businesses also get a boost from the dog runs. Secaucus’ dog run is located next to both an animal shelter and several restaurants that have received business from dog owners.
A ‘theme park for dogs’
“On weekends, there’s 30 or 40 dogs at a clip,” says Mike Gonnelli, superintendent of Public Works for Secaucus. He says many dog owners stop for a bite to eat at local restaurants after a trip to the dog run – which he describes as a “theme park for dogs,” complete with plastic hydrants and an agility course.
“So many people come down and see the shelter,” Gonnelli explains. People who have come from out-of-town to use the dog run have been known to adopt pets through the Secaucus animal shelter, he says.
The common link between all these dog runs is the joyful creatures, canine and human alike, who visit them every day. Dog runs give them all a chance to unwind, as well as an opportunity to encounter others like themselves.
While owning a dog may not be the answer to all the world’s problems (“Here, Osama, have a puppy”), watching them at play helps people forget their troubles for a little while.
Gone to the dogs Exploring the canine culture in local parks
