Downey Dog Park

Review: Rated on a Scale of 1 to 5 (1 lowest to 5 highest)

Summary:   Downey is on prime real estate at the corner of Dean Road and East Colonial Drive, with parking off East Colonial. Like most dog parks, it’s part of a larger recreational human park. This park’s main gates are in poor condition, the signage is confusing with two signs stating different operating hours, and the middle of the large dog area tends to turn into a big mud puddle when it rains. We also feel it’s a safety hazard for dogs because the damaged gates could allow dogs to get loose and run into the heavy traffic on Colonial Drive. The park is average in terms of it’s overall condition and could be better maintained! It has Small Dog, Large Dog, Time Out Areas, and a Dog Water Fountain. People have Benches, Picnic Tables, Shade Trees, and a Drinking Fountain! It can be a noisy park as you are surrounded by major traffic and a kiddie playground to the South! This park is a long rectangle and has some very nice shade trees on the farther West end. As always, the park is busiest on Weekends and more tranquil in the middle of the week.

Park Rules:

• Dog owners must be in the fenced dog park at all times within view and voice command range of their dogs. Dogs should come when called by their owners.
• Dogs must be removed from the dog park at the first sign of aggression.
• Aggressive dogs are not permitted on the premises.
• Dog owners must have a leash in hand at all times.
• Keep small children and infants under strict supervision.
• Leash dogs while entering and exiting the dog park.
• Dog feces must be cleaned up by owners.
• Female dogs in heat and sick dogs are prohibited from entering the dog park.
• Fill in any hole your dog digs.
• No food of any kind is allowed within the dog park.
• Do not run within the dog park. Leave running to the dogs.
• All dogs must have and display current licenses and tags.
• Sick dogs are not permitted in the park.
• All other general rules of Downey Park are also applicable within the dog park.
• All dog owners who fail to comply with the rules can be expelled from the park. Repeat offenders are subject to banning from the park.

If a Dog Fight Occurs...

• NEVER reach into the middle of a dogfight!!!
• Distract the dogs to divert their attention. A loud whistle, air horn, or a blast of water from a bottle, hose or pan can work.
• DO NOT grab a dog by the collar. Grabbing your dog by the hind legs to pull fighting dogs apart is preferred.
• Call for help if needed.
• Keep all dogs apart until they have calmed down.
• Use Time Out areas.