Story and photos by Larry Vogel

Small dogs soon will have a place to call their own at the Edmonds dog park. It’s one of several changes in park rules and amenities that dog owners and other fans of the Edmonds dog park (formally known as Off-Leash Area Edmonds or OLAE) are seeing.

The joys of being off-leash, chasing sticks and tennis balls, and generally kicking it up in the sand and surf bring out dogs’ energy and playfulness. But sometimes larger dogs play too rough with their smaller cousins.

In response, OLAE has teamed up with the Boy Scouts, the Edmonds Department of Parks and Recreation and Town and Country Fence to build a fenced-off area where small dogs can play and socialize.

Conceived as an Eagle Scout project by Troop 312 scout Thomas Tangen, the project is in partial fulfillment of his requirements to attain this rank.

Assistant Scoutmaster Shay Hastler noted that this will be the fifth Scout project at the dog park, “and the most ambitious to date,” she said. Hastler was quick to point out that the project would have been impossible without the generous support of Town and Country Fence. “They donated all the materials,” she said. “This project could not have happened without them.”

Other already-completed Scout projects include the agility course, the bulletin boards, the plastic bag kiosks and the double-gated entry. “All have been Eagle Scout projects except for the bulletin boards, which were done by the Cub Scout Pack 363 WEBLOS group,” Hastler said.

Ground-breaking for the small-dog enclosure is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 29. “We hope to start around 8 a.m.,” said Hastler. While the project is spearheaded by Tangen, other scouts are involved. “A group of Life scouts will fulfill their community service requirements by digging post holes, pouring concrete and setting fence posts,” Hastler added. The new small dog area will be ready for its first visitors in early September.

Those visiting the park will also find new rules for dogs and their owners.

“Recent visitors to the dog park have expressed concern about the number of unlicensed animals running free,” said Edmonds City Councilmember Diane Buckshnis, one of the dog park’s founders. “Occasionally dogs are hurt, lost or involved in altercations with other dogs or people using the park. A current license is the only way to accurately identify the animal and its owner.”

Animal control officers will be stepping up patrols in the park, and will check for current licenses.

Dog licenses are now mandatory for all dog park users. Owners of unlicensed pets are subject to monetary fines, possible removal of the animal and other judicial punishments.

Buckshnis pointed out that some dog owners mistakenly assume that a rabies tag is a valid license. “It’s great to know that an animal is current on rabies vaccinations,” she said. “But a rabies tag is not a license. Licenses are issued by the jurisdiction in which the pet owner lives.”

Edmonds residents can purchase pet licenses over the counter at the Edmonds Police Department. Residents of other jurisdictions should check with their local police.

More information on pet licenses, dog park rules, and other pet-related material is available here.