My young son, full of energy and innocence, was recently attacked by a dog at our local baseball field in Farmington, NM. This frightening experience was not isolated; another child, too, endured a nip from an uncontrolled canine during what is supposed to be a safe and joyful family outing. Despite these incidents, animal control did nothing, and the blame was unfairly shifted to the league. It’s time for a change.

Our local baseball and softball fields are meant to be a sanctuary of family fun and competitive sports, a place where parents should not have to fear for their children's safety due to irresponsible pet owners. Unfortunately, the issue of dogs fighting and frightening children is on the rise, leading to a pervasive sense of fear and unease. Families find themselves on constant alert, unwilling to let their children play freely, as they once used to, during the games.

We cannot allow this situation to continue. To ensure everyone’s safety, we propose a new policy that prohibits pets, other than service animals, from being allowed at any baseball or softball field in Farmington. To also place signs all around the parks on every enterance no pets allowed on premises unless a service animal. This rule is necessary to eliminate the risk of dog-related injuries and the chaos that can ensue when pets are in an unfamiliar, highly active environment.

This proposal is not about penalizing all dog owners but about creating a safe environment for children and families, preserving the essence of community sports events for everyone. Service dogs, essential for those with disabilities, would still be welcome, recognizing their important roles and specialized training to remain calm and controlled in all circumstances.

When our community’s well-being is at stake, decisive action is essential. Let us not wait for another incident to prompt change. Let us be proactive in our approach to making Farmington’s fields safe for all its residents.

Join us in urging our local authorities to implement this safety measure immediately. Sign this petition and empower Farmington to protect its children and ensure the joy of community sports activities is unmarred by preventable incidents.