HDOG efforts capturing public’s imagination
A group of pet owners advocating for an off-leash dog park in
Hollister is off like a greyhound on the trail of a rabbit.
Although it’s yet to mark its first birthday, the Hollister Dog
Owners Group
– HDOG – now counts some 150 members, according to Tammy Ballew,
president of the fledgling group.
HDOG efforts capturing public’s imagination
A group of pet owners advocating for an off-leash dog park in Hollister is off like a greyhound on the trail of a rabbit.
Although it’s yet to mark its first birthday, the Hollister Dog Owners Group – HDOG – now counts some 150 members, according to Tammy Ballew, president of the fledgling group.
“The county fair was a huge plus for us,” Ballew said. “We had a huge amount of traffic there and we signed up somewhere around 93 people.”
The group charges no dues, but does accept donations through its Web site (www.hollisterdog.org).
Many of the group’s members know each other through what has become Hollister’s de facto doggie playground. A fenced detention basin covers several acres at the west end of Frank Klauer Memorial Park, in the Sunnyslope Village development at the east edge of Hollister.
On a nice afternoon, as many as 15 dogs caper around, chasing balls and each other while owners chat and perhaps brag about their canines.
As popular as it is, the detention basin is not ideal. A delegation from HDOG was to meet with city staff late this week to discuss what might be done at Klauer Park to better accommodate four-footed activities.
“There are certain things we could do,” Ballew said. “Our biggest issue there, of course, is parking. But there’re a lot of other options we have. We could put in shade structures or trees.”
The group is not asking the city to fund improvements, but rather HDOG members expect the same kind of grass roots involvement that led to creation of their group to produce results through donations and volunteer labor.
“The dog-loving community is so large,” Ballew said. “I’ve met so many people I’d never have met before. I definitely think the community will get involved in this project. We all know the city doesn’t have any money. Nobody does right now. But we’re sure this can happen.”
She mentioned that owners might volunteer for dog-free cleanup days, followed by a potluck picnic.
The city’s recent acquisition of some 50 acres at the west edge of Hollister to be used as part of the city’s wastewater treatment system has HDOG members panting over possibilities as well.
The area, commonly referred to as the Brigantino property, will be covered in turf irrigated with water recovered from the nearby plant. The area, expected to be completed within the year, could be used for athletic fields.
But dog owners have a different kind of athleticism in mind.
Devoting perhaps two acres to a fenced dog play area, complete with seating for people, water and some shade virtually guarantees crowds of users and their pets daily.
The location would dovetail well with the city’s long-term goal of creating a network of pedestrian and cycle trails linking Hollister’s west gateway to areas in the southeast corner of the city via the San Benito River corridor.
That way, dogs and their owners could really stretch their legs, Ballew said.
“Lots of people have plenty of time and energy right now because they’re not traveling,” she said. “At Brigantino, they would need somebody to maintain the trails and put up park benches. We would be willing to do that.”
Ultimately, a dog park could include equipment for agility training and even a shallow pool for dogs to splash in, she said.
The inspiration for such a park came when Ballew visited Vallejo, and discovered a park there that looked like heaven for her golden retriever, Bailey.
If the Klauer or Brigantino sites don’t work, the group hopes to land a donation of land.
“We want to be the place that people want to copy,” Ballew said.
