Thieves Hit Dog Park July 23, 2005

** UPDATE 8/1/05 ** One of the past Dog Park Dog Committee members found a third tarp, purchased for the dog park a while ago and presumed missing, and a partron of the dog park who donated a tarp -- we once again have 2 tarps. What we still don't have is the top half of the large dog park structure or the bungy ties to secure that tarp. The third tarp the group owned was found in the garage of one of the members and is now up in the small dog park. Thanks goes out to all the concerned and involved dog park members for helping to keep this one of the best venues in San Diego for our four-legged friends.

** UPDATE 7/29/05 ** One of the Dog Park patrons had come to the dog park early on Sunday morning the 24th of July, about 5:45 a.m. She said when she pulled up there were 3 cars of "kids" (teens to 20's) who immediate got in their cars and left when she pulled up. If anyone knows of cars/kids in the park around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday July 24th or if you were in the park at this time, please contact the police.

One of the nicest, friendliest and perhaps busiest leash free dog parks in San Diego was vandalized the night of July 23rd, 2005. Thieves stole the tarps from both the large and small dog park areas sometime between Saturday night at 7 p.m. on the 23rd and Sunday morning at 6 a.m. on the 24th. The shade covers in both the large and small dog parks, costing well over $400, were purchased in 2003 with funds donated by involved community dog owners and installed (and reinstalled) by dog park volunteers. No city funds or staff were used for the purchase or installation of these coverings. These covered areas provide relief from the sun in the summer months and from rains throughout the year. They have provided an area where dog owners often sit and talk throughout the day and are almost always occupied throughout the year. The thieves also stole the top portion of the shade area in the large dog park, leaving only the legs of the structured as volunteers had secured these following the structure being blown over during high winds in 2003.

In addition to the stolen covered areas, all the plastic chairs in both dog parks were stolen. The plastic chairs were donated by dog owners for the convenience of all visitors to the dog park. Again, no city funds were involved, only the generous community dog owners. There were well over a dozen chairs between the two areas, seating which could and often was moved about the dog area so owners could socialize while their four-legged friends socialized in the park.

Below are some before and after shots taken the day before and after the theft. Some chairs have already been brought by dog owners to replaced those stolen. Please, if you saw or know anything about the theft, please call the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000 and/or Doyle Park Recreation Center at 858-581-7170.

Anything you can do to help us get these returned will be much appreciated. All stolen items had been donated by dog park owners and not purchased with city or state funds.

Large Dog Covered Area

Small Dog Covered Area

Click here for the small dog park panorama