View Point from a disabled dog owner.Without Hill's Bark Park I would have no where for Boo, my Service Dog to run, play, blow off some steam, just flat out get the exercise she needs. I am mobility impaired and do not have access to a power wheelchair or scooter. So walking her more than just to the corner (3 houses down) and back is just not really do-able for me and definitely not enough exercise for her.
She was in pretty good shape when I adopted her at 3 1/2 years old in Dec '04. She just turned 6 years old this past Jun (07), and no one can tell she's not 2-3 years old. She is in great health, a good part I attribute to her having a place to exercise and blow off steam.
She works hard for me and doing the work she does is demanding, physically and mentally. And working so hard I feel she deserves someplace for "off duty - down time" to run, roll in the grass, smell around, chase balls, roll around & romp with her "doggy buddies". She needs time and a place to just be a DOG, instead of always being on duty as my Service Dog. I can give her the time, but without Hill's Bark Park, I don't have the place as our yard is very, very small.
Hill's Bark Park is not only good for Boo, but it is Good for me. After I had to quit working due to my progressing Multiple Sclerosis, I started to fall into a serious depression. I was only 40 years old and knew very few people other than my co-workers. I started to stay home alone a lot and got more and more depressed.
The time following getting Boo was taken up with training. I trained her myself, from a dog that had lots of potential but not even basic things like sit and down through to a Service Dog with manners and task trained to pick up dropped items, balance/counter balance work, brace to help me up from falls, retrieve items, get clothes out of the dryer, and other tasks.
But then I realized as she had more training, she was needing exercise, so we went to the Bark Park. Now I'm a little shy at first, new experiences and people make me nervous. But as I got to know people, and went to the Bark Park more, I realized I was not as depressed, felt better, and was enjoying things more. I then realized that I wasn't just going to the Bark Park for Boo's benefit, I was going for MY BENEFIT too!
Now Hill's Park is great, but there are a lot of things it needs
- More lights
A accessible restroom
Shelter house or someplace to get out of the sun
A way for disabled persons to get around with canes, crutches, wheelchairs ect (ever tried to "wheel" around a place like the bark park - not easy)
Now I do know this stuff is expensive, but these are the things I wish the city would do, to make Hill's Bark Park more handicapped accessible.
