DOG | BLOG
Dog Parks Are Dangerous
And probably not for the reason you think
I’ve always loved taking my yellow lab to the dog park. And she’s always made the best of it: unlimited rolls in the dirt, getting the zoomies and going around and around the same tree fifty-three times, sniffing other dogs’ butts to her heart’s content and stealing their toys. When she was really little and naughty, she even snatched someone’s iPhone off the table. She was so proud of herself; galloping around the park, head held high with her newfound treasure.
‘Phoenix,’ I’d yelled. I was so embarrassed. ‘I’ll pay for it to be fixed,’ I’d said in desperation and fear that my dog would actually eat this iPhone 3.
That was ten years ago. Now, as an older dog, Phoenix is much more chilled. Especially because she’s recovering from her latest dog park escapade. She had the zoomies, big time and was running wild around the park. Even at ten, she was still faster than most dogs who chased her. Then bam — it happened. Her leg overextended and she tore her ACL.
We are ten days into her recovery from having doggy knee-reconstruction. She’s been cooped-up in our little makeshift pen in the loungeroom. The orthopaedic surgeon said it was one of the worst ruptures of an ACL he’d ever seen. He also said that she is the perfect candidate for a TTO (Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO). She’s healthy, fit and unlike most labs he sees — a good weight.
She’s starting to feel more herself and had started weight-bearing a little more each day. She misses our walks and our dog park visits — but I think I might miss them more. I can’t wait until we’re given the all-clear from her surgeon to start up some slow, controlled leash-walks. And when the day comes to return to a dog park, I’ll be more selective about where we go. The reason why she blew her ACL so bad was because the offending park’s ground was torn up (and dug up). It had a huge hole — which is the exact place where her leg overextended.
A word of wisdom — be careful of dog parks. Make sure they’re well maintained and have a mostly even ground. If a dog loses their footing or slips out that leg, you’ve got twelve weeks of gruelling rehab on your hands. Not to mention you’re $4000 poorer.
But I’d do and pay anything for my first baby. I just can’t wait until she’s up and running again. Maybe we’ll both be less miserable.