In a leash of their own

'Paw'sitive spaces

Earlier, there were very few public spaces in the city where dog owners can actually let go of their pets. Things have changed now. Pet parents are a happier lot thanks to the rising number of dog parks across the city.

Dog lovers find these spaces to be perfect outing spots. Karan Anand, a finance professional and his wife Nikita, frequent The Dog Park at the Elephant Pond.

“We make it a point to take our dog to the dog park and spend about four hours there. These large parks give him enough opportunity to burn extra energy. Also, there isn’t any other facility in the city where dogs can spend time in water,” says Karan.

Most of these pet parks are started by people who themselves faced a lack of space in the city for their dogs to move around without restrictions.

Srikanth Shankar, founder and chief experience officer, HollyBoo Pet Ventures, began The Dog Park at the Elephant Pond, near the Bannerghatta National Park, a while ago.

Srikanth says “Most dogs don’t get to enjoy the freedom of being let off their leash and their outings are restricted to a walk or two. The idea is to have a weekend space for dogs and their parents to spend quality time together,” says Srikanth.

“We have a fenced one acre ‘Off Leash Zone’ where dogs that get along with other dogs can experience absolute freedom. There’s also a large natural pond for them to swim in,” he adds.

Arpith Rohan, an engineer and a regular at most dog parks, says, “The best part about these places is that you can let your dog
explore without being afraid. The large space in itself is a wonderful experience,” says Arpith.

Another popular haunt is the Petboro Dog Park and Kennels in Varthur. The park has bridge tunnels, seesaw and hula hoop facilities.

Srinivasulu Gaddala, chief of operations, Petboro Dog Park and Kennels, explains, “There isn’t any space like that here so we decided to start one ourselves.”

The Cubbon Park,meanwhile, has always kept its space open for dogs. Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, founder of Cubbon Park Canines, points out that the dog park at Cubbon Park, has been seeing a good response.

“The informal dog park at Cubbon Park provides an opportunity for pets to stretch their limbs and socialise with other dogs,” says Priya. “Also, pet owners are encouraged to be responsible and follow certain rules,” says Priya.

Most dog parks are well-planned with pool facilities, forest trails and exercise equipment.

Akshay Rajagopalan, a businessman, points out that Cubbon Park is perhaps the only dog-friendly park in the city.

“It’s a perfect place for dogs of all shapes, ages and breeds to socialise. We also have parents who bring their children to get an understanding of dog behaviour,”Akshay adds.