Concerned Parents Against Dogs in Culver City Parks

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On Monday, July 25th, 7pm, the City Council of Culver City will make a decision regarding changing the ordinance to allow leashed dogs in Culver City Parks. This agenda item has been prompted by the The Parks and Recreation Commission, who, despite public outcry, has recommended to start a dogs-in-parks trial or "pilot program" in Culver West park, despite the fact that Culver West has an active preschool and playground!

We need you to speak out against this plan! Even if you've signed the petition, it's important that City Council sees real faces behind the signatures. The City Council takes the opinions of the citizens very seriously. We need to gather "en force" to let them know that we don't want dogs in our parks. We all know that once dogs are allowed in even one Culver City park, the word will spread. Then we'll see dogs in all of our parks. The children of Culver City deserve to play in safe and clean parks.

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The Culver City Parks and Recreation Commission is discussing a plan to change the Culver City Ordinance to allow leashed dogs in Culver City Parks. Culver City Ordinance 9.10.55A, which was adopted by Culver City in 1965 states that dogs are not permitted in Culver City Parks. In response to dog owners, Culver City has already committed money and land for an off-leash dog park, which is scheduled to open sometime in 2005.

Our Culver City Parks are used daily by children of all ages. Children use our parks to ride their bicycles, run and play, practice and play sports, and more. Families come to our parks to spend time with each other, picnic, and sit on the grass to play, talk, or watch events such as games or summer theatre.

The dog ordinance was put in place to help ensure that our parks are safe and clean for all. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of those victims are children." (Los Angeles Times, Sunday June 6, 2004.)

Furthermore, the Los Angeles Times stated again (May 2, 2005) that "children should not be allowed to play in areas that could potentially be contaminated with dog or cat feces. To prevent contamination in public parks, dogs should not be allowed in children's play areas."

Our parks should be the one place that children and their families feel that they can safely play. For the safety of our children and other park users, the Culver City parks should remain as they are, free from dogs, leashed or otherwise.