COMPOC: Dog Parks, Animal Services and Park Patrol

This month's COMPOC meeting focused on Santee's dog parks- a recent addition to the many park and rec options in the city. A presentation was given on the history of off-leash areas, dog park formation, challenges, and plans, followed by a presentation by County Animal Services about what they do countywide and Santee specific issues.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Friends of Woodglen Vista Dog Park (FWVDP).

Here are some key notes from the Feb. 13 meeting:

Dog Parks

• The first dog park/off-leash area was requested in Santee in 1996.

• Plans had been made for a dedicated dog park in the Fanita Ranch housing development, which were scrapped with the rest of the project.

• Challenges to the current system include: dogs off-leash out of the dog park area, dogs not under voice control approaching other park users, owners of aggressive dogs returning to the park, and they get requests to separate small and big dogs into separate areas.

• New dog bag dispensers and $10,000 dollars in dog poop bags were recently installed at Santee parks, paid for by advertising on the dispensers.

Animal Services

• Santee contracts out with San Diego County Animal Services and Santee is served out of the Bonita shelter.

• The Bonita shelter is essentially a "no kill shelter," meaning they have a policy not to euthenize healthy and adoptable animals.

• There is an animal officer to resident ratio of 1/85,000 countywide.

• Cock fighting is a big issue in the county- but not in Santee.

• The fine for your dog being off a leash in a leash area could be $250-$350.

• FWVDP would like more animal services enforcement at Santee's dog parks. They say there is a problem with some scofflaw dog owners believing the rules won't be enforced.

• 800 requests for service were received from Santee last year, 150 of them were emergencies. Over 500 animals were impounded from Santee, and 300 adopted out or claimed by a new home in the area.

River Park Watch

• The San Diego River Park Foundation is working with the city to create a "neighborhood watch" type program along Santee's river parks to be the "eyes and ears of the park."

• The goals of the program are to reduce vandalism, establish a presence in parks for park user peace of mind, encourage responsible behavior and act as park customer service, including trash pick up and education, like trail guides.

• They hope to launch the program by the end of Feb.

• The Santee Ravens are partnering with this program, and many volunteers are already interested.