Freedom elusive for island’s dogs
reprinted courtesy Maui News
7/9/07
Reader asks: “Can you provide information for Maui ’off leash’ dog parks/areas?”
The only park specifically available for dogs to run around unleashed is at the Kilohana Dog Park off Kilohana Drive in Wailea.
The Maui Humane Society is working with the county Department of Parks and Recreation to develop other areas where dogs are free to roam freely, said Jocelyn Bouchard, the society’s chief executive officer.
“Dogs are social creatures by nature,” she said. “It’s great for dogs to interact with each other and be dogs and do dog things.”
The Kilohana park opened in March, and its development was spearheaded by the Wailea Community Association. Located near the Wailea Fire Station, the fenced dog park cost about $75,000. It encloses an area of about 70 feet by 90 feet. Dog park rules are posted, and trash bags are available to dispose of dog waste.
Although the Humane Society has begun work on establishing other dog parks on the island, Bouchard said those efforts are in the “very early stages.”
But work has started to put together committees of volunteers to identify locations for other dog parks. Bouchard said a location should have some shade, appropriate fencing, irrigation and, ideally, be large enough to have areas to segregate large and small dogs.
Other considerations would be finding ways to keep a dog park free of fleas and ticks and setting up a group to support the park with maintenance and other tasks.
Another feature might be for the park to have a card-entry system that would, for example, allow entry only to dogs that are current with their vaccinations, Bouchard said.
She said she understands there’s interest in establishing dog parks in Central Maui, perhaps at Keopuolani Park, and at the new regional park being developed in Kihei.
Dog parks are a “hot topic right now,” she said. “People are definitely interested in it.”
Bouchard said violations of Maui County’s leash law are the society’s top complaint.
All dogs in the county are required to be properly restrained at all times. Dogs on private property need to be in a fully enclosed yard, in a kennel or on a leash. Also, dog owners must have the expressed consent of a property owner for dogs to be on private property. While on public property, dogs must be on a leash no more than 10 feet long.
To report a leash law violation, call the society at 877-3680. Leash law violations carry a maximum penalty of $500.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of a committee to establish a dog park can send e-mail to Bouchard at jbouchard@mauihumanesociety. org.
reprinted courtesy Maui News 7/9/07
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