This petition address the Omagh and Fermanagh Council to consider the need and want for a secure dog park within the Omagh area. This would be a very welcome addition to the Omagh, not only would it provide a safe, secure and open space for owners to allow their dogs to run, play and socialise it would also promote a healthier outdoor lifestyle for all dogs and dog owners.

The proposed plan would include a safe and secure area for dogs to play, water bowl and hose down stations, dog waste bins and bags.

Similar parks are available in Banbridge -beechgrove this park in particular attracts people from all over Northern Ireland daily for a fun and exciting day out. A dog park has the ability to help local business promote their business (such as dog grooming, training, kennels, dog walking, local pet stores) and would attract people from far and near to realise the beauty, fun and community spirit that Omagh has to offer.

Please read below: A huge majority of people living within the Omagh area have dogs. However nearly every secured park within the area have 'NO DOGS ALLOWED' signs on the front gates with new proposals (2019) to introduce dog exclusion zones within Omagh and Fermanagh the places for dog owners to bring their dogs to are pretty much non-existant,  there should be an area enclosed where dogs and owners can come to relax and let their dogs socialize and exercise with the security of knowing they are safe from any traffic or from the danger of running Away.

''Many behavior problems in dogs are caused by a lack of physical and mental activity. Dogs were born to lead active lives. They’ve worked alongside people for thousands of years, hunting game, herding and protecting livestock, and controlling vermin. Dogs’ wild relatives lead busy lives, too. Their days are full of hunting, scavenging, avoiding predators and complex social interaction. Most pet dogs, on the other hand, spend the majority of their time alone at home, napping on couches and eating food from bowls—no hunting or scavenging required. Many become bored, lonely and overweight. They have excess energy and no way to expend it, so it’s not surprising that they often come up with activities on their own, like unstuffing couches, raiding trash cans and gnawing on shoes. To keep your dog happy, healthy and out of trouble, you’ll need to find ways to exercise her brain and body. If she enjoys the company of her own kind, visits to your local dog park can greatly enrich her life. Benefits of going to the dog park include:'' Benefits include: 'Physical and mental exercise for dogs Your dog can zoom around off-leash to her heart’s content, investigate new smells, wrestle with her dog buddies and fetch toys until she happily collapses. ' 'Opportunities to maintain social skills Dogs are like us, highly social animals, and many enjoy spending time with their own species. At the dog park, your dog gets practice reading a variety of other dogs’ body language and using her own communication skills, and she gets used to meeting unfamiliar dogs on a frequent basis. These valuable experiences can help guard against the development of fear and aggression problems around other dogs' 'Fun for pet parents Dogs aren’t the only ones who enjoy dog parks. People do, too. They can exercise their dogs without much effort, socialize with other dog lovers, bond and play with their dogs, practice their off-leash training skills, and enjoy the entertaining antics of frolicking dogs There are many unused large open areas within omagh such as: Arelston Park, Omagh History Park, Council own fields and land. If you agree that Omagh could benefit from a dog park please feel free to sign and leave a reason why you are signing. And we will endeavour to forward to Omagh Council in hope of a response :)  

Thanks for taking time to read.