Niagara Falls dog parks are not regulated. Rules are listed on the fences of SOME, but nobody follows them OR enforces them. 
This makes dog parks a ticking time bomb for serious injury of it's patrons and the dogs they bring there. In fact, most good dog trainers agree, dogs parks are a nightmare. But they don't have to be! 

Firemen's park in particular has a bad "event" nearly daily. Dog fights, human fights OVER dog fights, people bringing small children into the park risking NUMEROUS serious injury from occurring. & many more unpleasant events.

Numerous people have openly stated they didn't even know there was posted rules at the park.!! 

People bring food, babies and even come into the park with kids and NO DOG treating it like a petting zoo. The dog park is NOT for the entertainment of people's children. There is a children's park 500 yards from the dog park FOR KIDS. 
Intact dogs are constantly in the park, which can cause extremely dangerous situations, as well as unwanted pregnancy if there is a female dog in season. 

I've SEEN with my own eyes a grown man removed from a dog park by AMBULANCE because a pack of dogs upwards of 120lbs were blindly running and slammed into the man buckling both of his knees. NOT the dogs fault, as they were just running and having fun...BUT imagine the damage that could do to a small child! 

One woman in particular has publicly said & has been heard by many witnesses that she brings her dog to the park to "see if it'll get pregnant" and regularly LEAVES her dog there and goes to the parking lot to sit in her car! The same person's dog bowled over a child recently without serious injury ( thankfully) but she was NOWHERE to be found during the incident. Many patrons dislike this woman for obvious reasons but she continues to be allowed to attend the park. Stories like these go on for days! 

The listed rules that are so small on a tiny sign and out of the way on the fence state that "the City of Niagara Falls is not responsible for loss or injury as a result of using the park". Yet it says "aggressive dogs will be removed"  But by WHO? if there is NEVER anyone enforcing the rules, WHO removes the aggressive dogs & their owners? NOBODY. I've never seen any officials policing the rules but I've seen regulars WITH aggressive dogs, clear the park of ALL the patrons within minutes of arriving because they all know who they are. This is unfair and should be allowed to continue. 

This leaves the owners law bi-ding and NOT law-biding left to duke it out themselves thus creating a hostile environment over and over again that I've seen with my own eyes MANY times.  

Firemen's Park and all like it that are NOT regulated or have rules & regulations enforced are a ticking time bomb for serious injury to adult humans, children and the dogs who many people view as special to them as children are to other people. 

I know from my experience with a dog park in Brampton Ontario & 2 in Toronto, that a dog park CAN be the pleasant fun place for dogs & owners to attend with little to no incidents;  WHEN either city officials AND or Animal control regularly police the park during peek visit times. I know I share this sentiment with MANY people who I've spoken to about the potential nightmare and daily chaos that occurs at our dog parks that are NOT regulated or enforced. 

In order to have these parks be MUCH safer and enjoyable for DOGS & their owners I am petitioning for the following: 

1. Put the RULES on a LARGE sign, in EACH of the breezeways (entrances) of the small & large dog side of the fenced in leash free area. 
2. Have the park visited by Animal Control OR city employees during peek visit times to ensure RULES are being followed by all & promptly remove those who are not.
3. The park rules are great but there are some key rules for success NOT included, &  should read as follows (for a successful dog park safe for EVERYONE but most importantly for the dogs) (because its the dogs that bring us there...its supposed to be FOR the dogs) 

- NO SMALL KIDS at ALL! ever. (because they can seriously injured or even killed) 
- NO FOOD (because it ca cause fights) 
- NO Dog toys!!! (because they can fight over them)
- NO intact Dogs ever. (serious fights can occur OR unwanted pregnancy) 
- Do NOT leave your dog unattended!   Dogs can't be controlled if the owner isn't there!
- All dogs must UTD on vaccines 
- NO dogs with known aggression issues. 
- STOOP & SCOOP AND Dispose in PROVIDED receptacle (do not leave it in the woods or on the grounds!)
- NO sick or injured dogs! 
- The breezeway at the entrance is DESIGNED to be where you take the leash off! DO IT THERE. NOT inside the park. There's a REASON for that!
- Leash free is ONLY inside the fenced park area all other areas of the grounds should require a leash!.

Note: People go for a leashed walk on the beautiful surrounding trails & encounter off lead aggressive dogs regularly, this is NOT safe or fair to the law biding dog walker!

Additionally there should be a 3 strike limit to rule infractions for people who just don't seem to get it how serious it can be when rules are broken. 

Dog parks are supposed to be fun places to take well socialized dogs to have FUN. Not stressful chaotic nightmares that no doubt as unregulated places are good for nothing but vets offices.

Please, Lets help make them a peaceful place to take your dog relatively worry free & stop the DAILY chaos and hurt they can cause as well as the fighting between the humans. Its not an enjoyable community experience if people are fighting there EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Thank you on behalf of myself and the many people I've spoken to who agree with me. 

We hope to appeal to RZONE
As described on website: 
"The Rzone is a no tolerance operating procedure that applies to all City of Niagara Falls Parks, Recreation and Culture programs, facilities, and properties. The Rzone procedure enforces no tolerance of violence, vandalism and inappropriate behavior for participants and the public." 

The goal of the Rzone policy is to improve the safety and leisure environment in all City of Niagara Falls facilities, parks and programs.