Lab 9: Dog Parks

When discussing Environmental Sciences it is important to remember the every day implications of humanity's interaction with nature. Dumping chemicals from a factory could ruin an entire watershed, clear cutting can erode away all fertile soil in an area and leave it barren, and what is the connection between the emissions from the cars that drive past your house and your garden in the back yard? Dog Parks are yet another scenario where Humans and Nature meet with unexpected consequences.

Socially, Dog Parks are a great way to allow your pet to get exercise, meet other dog lovers, and enjoy the outdoors. However, they are not immune to the environmental variables that affect so much of our daily lives. At the Macon Dog Park, for example, there is a small creek that runs through it. This creek is runoff from a neighborhood nearby, and is subject to contaminants from garbage on the side of the road, car exhaust, biological matter from other animals, and chemicals that might be dumped by an irresponsible person such as anti-freeze or motor oil.

Anti-freeze? In my water? It's more likely than you think.

To further delve into this topic, the dogs themselves are a risk to one another. Dogs attacking other dogs, dogs eating the feces of other dogs, dogs giving other dogs diseases, it's pandemonium. One of the largest threats to the safety of dogs in these large group gatherings is the Parvovirus. According to Wikipedia: "Canine parvovirus is a particularly deadly disease among young puppies, about 80% fatal, causing gastrointestinal tract damage and dehydration as well as a cardiac syndrome in very young pups. It is spread by contact with an infected dog's feces. Symptoms include lethargy, severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, and dehydration." It's important to take notice of such biological issues that could arise from something as simple as going to the dog park, as well as the environmental impacts that can shape and affect unsuspecting animals in even the most controlled of environments.