Why Ann Arbor Should Go To the Dogs

The thermometer reads 32 degrees without the wind chill. My coffee is hot but the Swift Run Dog Park is freezing cold. Despite the soggy, muddy, mess, small groups of humans cluster together while packs of dogs enjoy the crisp March afternoon. Despite the fact that Ann Arbor's most popular dog park is built on a landfill within fetching distance from I-94, the people still come.

 

"Ann Arbor is a huge dog town," says Chelle Kilmury, owner of the Ann Arbor Groom n Go location on South Industrial. "They love them as much as they love their two-legged children."

 

"You see dogs downtown all the time and a lot of shops are dog friendly," says Margaret Svoboda, owner of Arbor Dog Daycare. The Ann Arbor area is great for dog businesses and the dogs themselves."

 

At Swift Run, I catch up with Jessica Rodriguez and Scott MacInnis. They drive to Swift Run a few times a week to give their sibling pooches Sam and Alice an opportunity to get fresh air and exercise. 

 

"Hands down it's the best park," Scott says.

 

So why isn't it all chew toys and Beggin' Strips for dog owners in the city. Why is city council constantly hearing complaints about dogs in our own backyards? How are dogs not good for the city of Ann Arbor? 

 

 

The Humane Society estimates that there are 78.2 million dogs in the United States, living in 39 percent of American households. The American Pet Products Association estimates that the pet industry totaled more than $35 billion in 2012. Though no comprehensive numbers could be found for the state of Michigan, the American Kennel Club pegged the economic impact of "pure breed" dogs at $41.7 million in 2009. Which is to say that, love 'em or hate 'em, dogs and their owners are a significant part of the community and economy.

In response to that fact, cities across the U.S. and Canada have been developing public spaces for man's best friend. In New York City, where real estate is a premium, there are a whopping 53 off-leash public dog parks. Chicago boasts a respectable 22 dog parks, with Toronto providing a modest 15 parks. Even our college football rivals in Madison, WI  enjoy 11 off-leash areas for their canines companions (but are required to purchase a $30 annual permit). 

 

Ann Arbor didn't open its first public off-leash dog park until 2007, roughly 183 years after the city was first founded. (Ed. note: Ann Arbor has had private dog parks before, including Paw Run, but none operated by the city). And as any pup parent will tell you, dog parks aren't a luxury. They're an important amenity for healthy, happy dogs (and their owners), just like public parks are good for healthy, happy kids (and their parents). 

 

"When we first bought our business in 2006, we were surprised that Ann Arbor didn't have any off-leash dog parks," says Svoboda. "We'd get together with a small group of friends on Sunday mornings and illegally go off-leash together. 

 

With a budget just shy of $150,000, Swift Run opened in 2007. Less than a year later, a small section of Olson Park on the north side of the city was fenced in to create Ann Arbor's second off-leash dog park. And just like that, Ann Arbor became infinitely more dog friendly.

 

"This is a great Sunday morning activity," says Scott MacInnis, hands in his pockets braving the cold at Swift Run. "We've gone to Olson Park before but it's pretty small."

 

Swift Run is massive but the space is wide open with no trees or shelter, making it terribly windy in the winter and, I assume, unbearably hot and sunny in the summer. It's also pure mud.

 

"Swift Run is incredibly muddy this time of year," says Svoboda. "Because of the land, they can't dig up the ground to plant trees so there isn't any shade and they can't add features like water. Every time you take your dog to the park you need to take them for a bath."

 

It's not just the condition of Swift Run, it's the location. For most residents, it's a bit of a drive. Olson Park's small size makes it equally unattractive. Speaking to one dog owner in the section  reserved for smaller dogs at Swift Run, she told me how she avoids Olson Park because it doesn't allow a split between large and small dogs.

 

"It's not safe," she says.

 

No dogs in our own backyard
 

Part of the reason the Swift Run Dog Park exists is because it's next to a landfill and the interstate and not near a residential neighborhood or businesses. Recent attempts to add a centrally-located public off-leash dog park to the city have been slow going at best. A proposal to create a fenced-in area on the Chapin side of West Park was squashed after complaints from the New Hope Baptist Church across the street, citing noise and safety issues. 

 

Lobbying against dogs in our own backyards is nothing new. When Svoboda put in a request to the city to expand her business back in 2009, she received opposition from a number of nearby residents that dragged the proceedings out for a year before finally winning approval for her hard-fought expansion. 

 

The result allowed Ann Arbor Dog Daycare to quadruple its capacity and extend hours, which required doubling the number of staff. More jobs, more opportunity for revenue and the potential to continue a successful small business in Ann Arbor serving a need in the community.

 

Business isn't just good for boarding. Kilmury's Groom 'n Go has 150 regular clients and 187 dogs, with some owners booking up to a year in advance. Dog owners pay anywhere from $45 and up every six to eight weeks to keep their pooches looking great and their homes free of hairballs. It's  the power of Dogonomics. And that only scratches the surface of what dog owners do and are willing to pay. 

 

"We spend about $60 a month on food," says Scott MacInnis. "Vet bills are nominal since both dogs are young. Oh, and there's toys and treats."

 

"If we didn't have dog toys, they'd destroy our house," adds Jessica Rodriguez.

 

Ann Arbor loves their dogs and local businesses are in a prime position to offer the products and services needed to take care of these four-legged children. So how are dogs not good for Ann Arbor?

 

Dog parks help make Ann Arbor more hospitable for pooches, which leads to more dog owners in the city, which could lead to even more business for these already successful ventures. The need for parks exists. The need for services like boarding and grooming exists. And trust me - no one is playing soccer in West Park on a Saturday afternoon. Give them the dog park. At the very least it'll give locals something other than public art to complain about.

Richard Retyi is the social media manager at Ann Arbor digital marketing firm Fluency Media as well as a freelance writer for various publications. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichRetyi or read his blog at RichRetyi.com.