Rossmoor Dog Park: A guide to ‘petiquette’ and community

By Jung Fitzpatrick

Club correspondent

With summer and warmer weather upon us, more Rossmoor residents – both human and canine – are enjoying the community’s wonderful outdoor spaces. One beloved amenity is the Rossmoor Dog Park, a fully enclosed, offleash area designed for play, exercise and socialization.

The Rossmoor Dog Park Club (RDPC) is a RWC-sanctioned club dedicated to ensuring the park remains a safe, welcoming and enjoyable space for everyone. Whether you are a longtime user or a new visitor, this guide offers helpful information about the benefits of the park and the importance of proper dog park etiquette – what we call “petiquette.”

Why visit the Rossmoor Dog Park?

The Rossmoor Dog Park provides numerous benefits for both dogs and their guardians:

• A Rossmoor-sanctioned space for off-leash time

• Opportunities for socialization – for pups and people alike

• A safe and convenient area for exercise, especially for those with mobility challenges

• Proximity to home, with ample parking nearby It’s more than just a place to play – it’s a community hub for Rossmoor’s dog-loving residents.

Who should use the Dog Park?

While the park is open to all Rossmoor residents, it’s important to consider whether your dog is well-suited for this type of environment. An ideal Dog Park visitor is a responsible guardian with a well-mannered, healthy and socialized pup.

Responsible guardians:

• Always supervise their dogs while in the park

• Pick up after their pets

• Intervene appropriately when play becomes too rough

• Follow all posted park rules Even if you don’t have a pooch, you are welcome to stop by and soak in the furball fun!

Dogs using the park should meet the following criteria:

• Be free from injury and contagious disease, and up to date on vaccinations (puppies must be fully vaccinated)

• Be spayed or neutered

• Be well-socialized – not aggressive toward or excessively fearful of people or dogs

• Respond reliably to recall commands

• Wear proper identification at all times

Understanding the park’s limitations

Like all community spaces, the Dog Park has its limitations. Awareness of these helps keep everyone safe and happy.

1. No separate areas for large and small dogs. Because the park is a shared space for pups of all sizes, guardians must be especially vigilant. It’s important to ensure that larger dogs do not overwhelm smaller ones and that all play remains respectful. If you notice tension, intervene promptly and, if necessary, take a break from the park.

2. One entrance and exit. The single access point means the area around the entrance can become crowded, especially during peak hours. Managing your dog’s behavior near the gate is essential to avoid congestion and potential conflict.

Entry and exit protocol: Keeping everyone safe The Dog Park uses a double- gate “airlock” system to help prevent escapes. Here are some best practices for entering and exiting:

• Wait your turn. If someone is leaving the park, allow them to exit before you enter. This prevents unexpected interactions in the small, confined entry space.

• Leash your dog before entering the airlock. This ensures that you maintain control during transitions.

• Close all gates securely.

Be sure to firmly close the outer gate before opening the inner gate to enter the park.

These simple steps help maintain a calm and secure environment for everyone.

Join the RDPC community

The Rossmoor Dog Park Club hosts regular meetings to discuss park maintenance, upcoming events and community initiatives.

A guest speaker from Muttville will be presenting at the next meeting on Friday, June 20 in Multipurpose Room 1 at Gateway at 1 p.m.

The club will also have a table at the Club Fair on Thursday, June 5. Stop by and say “Hi!”

The club’s mission is to promote the health, happiness and well-being of all dogs while fostering a spirit of community and cooperation among their guardians.

Learn more

For more information, including detailed park rules, resources for dog guardians, and ways to get involved, visit the RDPC website. Link: https://rossmoordogpark.com Residents can also use the site to contact the RDPC with questions or concerns.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a daily park regular, RDPC invites residents to enjoy the Rossmoor Dog Park. The Dog Park is open daily, rain or shine, 8 a.m. to dusk, except Thursdays from 8 to 10 a.m. for cleaning.

With the help of residents, we can keep this special place safe, clean and fun for everyone – four-legged and twolegged alike.