Amenities

The Dog Park is for dogs and those people accompanying them. No other use is allowed without permission from the Board of Park Commissioners. • All dogs must have an up to date license by their city/town and current rabies vaccination. Tags on collar or other proof of license/vaccination must be available at all times. o Keep a copy of current shot records on hand for police or animal control officials. Dogs who are up to date on vaccinations are less likely to spread certain communicable diseases. • Dogs must be on leash when entering the park. When in the off-leash areas, they must be off-leash except in the case leashing is required to command and control your dog(s) to the exit. Leashes must be with you at all times. For your dog’s safety, No slip, prong, or choke collars will be permitted within the park. o Dogs who are leashed may feel threatened by free roaming dogs. o In the event of problems, dog owners should be able to quickly leash and remove their dogs from the premises. • Dog handlers must be 16 years of age or older. Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of 8 are not permitted in the park. o No infants or small children are permitted in the dog park. Small children, especially running children, may be regarded as prey animals by strange dogs. Dogs may also feel the urge to protect children they know. This tends to cause aggressive behavior. • No Large Dogs (greater than 30 lbs.) are permitted in the small dog enclosure. • Each handler may have no more than three (3) dogs at a time in this area. • At all times while dogs are using the park, their handler shall be in the designated area with their dog. The handler must maintain visual contact with their dog(s) and maintain voice control over their dog(s) within the area. o If voice control is not possible, do not enter “off-leash” areas. Voice control enables owners to stop dogs from misbehaving. o No dog may be unattended. Unattended dogs are more likely to get into trouble and stay in trouble than dogs who are being watched. • Aggressive Dogs are prohibited in the dog park. Any dog showing signs of aggression must be immediately removed from the dog park. o Aggressive dogs are not allowed in the park. Any dogs showing signs of aggression should be removed from the premises. Aggressive dogs tend to engage in fighting behavior. Any dog that engages in fighting and cannot be stopped by voice command does not belong in the dog park. • No Excessive Barking. Handlers should allow only MINIMAL barking. Dogs barking excessively must be removed from the park. • Handlers must clean up after their dogs; Fill any holes dug and pick up any dog waste and seal in the provided bags before disposing into designated receptacles. o Owners must clean up any dog droppings made by their pets. Bag all droppings before depositing them in provided receptacles. Owners help keep the dog park clean and well maintained by picking up after their pets. o Owners must fill in any holes made by their pets. Owners who fill in holes dug by their pets help maintain the dog park. The Following are not permitted in the Dog Park: • No Dogs determined to be a “Dangerous Dog” pursuant to MGL ch.140 § 157 or Fitchburg City Code ch. 84. • No female dogs in heat. o Female dogs in heat are not permitted in the dog park. Female dogs in heat can cause aggression in male dogs. Also, females in heat should be kept at home in order to prevent unwanted puppies. • No Puppies under 6 months of age. o Puppies under six months of age may not have received all of their vaccinations. They should be kept away from the dog park for their own protection and that of other dogs. • No dogs wearing prong or choke collars. • No Food or glass containers are allowed in the Dog Park. • Dogs cannot be fed while in the Dog Park. o Do not give treats to any dog without the owner’s permission. Some dogs may have allergic reactions to some treats. o Do not bring human or dog food inside the park. Obvious food can prompt aggressive behavior between dogs. • No Brushing or Grooming dogs inside the park. o Do not brush or otherwise groom pets inside the park. Pet grooming often produces loose hair which can soil the dog park. • No Smoking • No Alcohol • Dog Training may be permitted only with prior authorization from the Board of Park Commissioners