First, Thank You but Please Save Your Donations! They all go towards advertising this petition to the world and it's not helpful for our cause.  No Donations please. 

What is more sad than a disabled senior walking their beloved dog and best friend on a burning hot street while they drive a golf cart?  Not much I can tell you, especially when the dog is distressed due to sizzling hot and or freezing temperatures.  Would it be ok if there absolutely weren’t any alternatives?  It doesn't matter because in this case there are  numerous alternatives to include five ADA compliant groomed parks that are deserted more days of the year than enjoyed by members.  

 

 

This issue has been debated for decades yet due to false information and fear of retaliation, those in favor which make up the majority persons living in Lake Wildwood have not had their requests met. 

While Declarations & Rules for the Lake Wildwood Association were written to include a 'No Dogs Allowed in Common Areas' clause, these rules were written in 1969 and have already been Amended three times by the LWWA Board of Directors.  Of these changes, some were made with and some without votes by the property owners.  

Although the most recent 'Official LWW Resident Vote' to add a dog park to LWW resulted in  majority "YES" votes by those who physically lived in the Lake Wildwood community, the measure did not pass due to "non-returned ballots" being counted as "no to dog park" votes.  Amendments are expected as the laws and needs of people within different communities change.  

 

The Lake Wildwood Board of Directors has the power within itself to pass an amendment to allow a 'Family & Dog Play and Socialization Area'.  Per LWWA Rules and Regulations, Procedure PR-1.10.10, the proposed change would just need to be presented in the monthly member newsletter no less than two-weeks prior to the board consideration.

 

Of the most concerning rumor, potential legal liability to the LWW Association, and argument for why the community should not have an area for residents and their dogs, liability to the Association just isn't a real concern. 

Per California Civil Code 3342:  The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.  Thus the liability of an incident taking place in such an area within the HOA would NOT fall on the LWWA but instead on the owner of the dog.

There are currently five groomed Parks available to members of LWW within the community.  Of which, dues paying members are not allowed to bring their beloved furry family members to any of them.  Instead, members are only allowed to walk their dogs on the roads.  These roads are considerably dangerous in that the steep changes in elevation combined with blind curves leave drivers just seconds to react when coming upon a dog walker(s). Also, dogs cannot even be walked on the roads during sunny hours of at least two months out of the year due to scorching asphalt.  

 

 

According to a 2018 survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (N.R.P.A.), 91 percent of Americans believe dog parks provide benefits to their communities. This was especially true among millennials and Gen Xers, who overwhelmingly recognized dog parks as beneficial amenities.   

With rules passed to govern an outdoor area allocated to current residents and their dogs, the PRO’s of a canine-inclusive area will far outweigh the WOE’s:

It brings the community closer. A 2014 study published in Leisure Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Journal called On the Fence: Dog Parks In The (Un)Leashing Of Community And Social Capital likened pets to avatars in interactive online games. The dogs help their owners navigate familiar conversations, participate in outdoor group activities, and meet new people.

It builds a dog-friendly network. For new homebuyers, it can be nerve-racking to ask where the best groomer or vet is on a Facebook group or to their next-door neighbor. Puppy parks allow those with a common interest in maintaining their pooch’s health (also known as pet parents) to discuss the best options for man’s best friend, including pet stores, organic food, and dog sitters, without interrupting uninterested folks.

 

As John Etter from Parks Planning & Public Works Maintenance in Eugene, Oregon, said, “Off-leash parks are community centers for people just as much as for canines."

 

It gives dogs a bit of freedom. Leash laws in cities are becoming increasingly more strict due to the potential for property damage and attacks, so dog parks give puppies the opportunity to roam and roll around without any tugging. Puppy parks also keep four-legged friends safe from cars and busy sidewalks while allowing them to get adequate off-leash exercise and social activity.

A dog park reduces troublesome behavior from canines. Without physical and mental stimulation, dogs can develop nuisance behavior like excessive barking, constant rough play, restlessness, anxiety, leash pulling, and destructive habits (eating shoes, pulling the couch apart, or knocking food off counters and the table).

Homeowners are happier and healthier. Offering a puppy park to our list of amenities will hopefully convince a few neighbors to take home furry friends from the shelter. If you need a few more reasons, check out what Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, psychology instructor, and keynote speaker, said to LifeHack:  

• You’ll exercise more often with daily dog walks -- or visits to the puppy park.
• Dogs help you feel less stressed and improve your mental health by fighting depression and anxiety.
• Your social life improves as you build a community of dog owners.
• Your dog can detect cancerous spots on your body before you can.
• Your kids are less likely to develop allergies.
• Dogs lower your heart rate.
• Dog owners tend to have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels compared to non-dog owners, which means you’re more immune to general sickness.
• Dogs offer a home security system.

 

 

 

Please tell the Board Members for The Lake Wildwood Association in Penn Valley California that the need and desire for a “traffic free”, safe, ADA accessible, area in which residents may bring their well-behaved dogs has been ignored for way too long.  Lake Wildwood residents should be able to socialize, exercise, play, or just relax in an area aesthetically comparable to the other beautiful parks in LWW. The call for a safe place within the gates of LWW has been shut down for over two decades and time is up.   Not one more summer should go by in which residents should have to walk thier dogs on burning hot streets.  Enough is enough, dog owners make up a significant and growing population in Lake Wildwood and as equal dues-paying members we want an area provided to us by Calendar year end 2023.  

 

YES!!  ON A ‘FAMILY-DOG WELCOME’ SOCIALIZATION, EXERCISE, & PLAY AREA WITHIN THE GATED LAKE WILDWOOD COMMUNITY.