LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Dafne Villanueva
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? n Check out the city of Austin’s Bark Rangers program that joins dogs and their owners to help better the community.
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n a city as beautiful as Austin, the parks and outdoor spaces entice many dog owners and their dogs. While Austin is known for being dog-friendly, the beauty of our parks and water spaces, unfortunately, suffer when owners fail to properly leash their dogs or dispose of their dog’s waste; this is where the Bark Rangers come in. The Bark Rangers are affiliated with the City of Austin and focus on the city’s parks and outdoor spaces, with a mission similar to the National Park affiliation but with greater emphasis on local procedures. Bark Rangers in Austin aim to reduce the amount of pet waste or bagged pet waste left on trails and in parks, reduce the number of off-leash dogs in on-leash parks, reduce pet and pet owner injuries and deaths due to inadequate safety measures,
JUNE 2022
Lucy
DALE BLASINGAME
and encourage pet owners to be park caretakers for Austin’s park system.
A Helping Hand
Melissa Hand, an Austin Park Ranger II and Bark Ranger program coordinator, explains the importance of caring for our pets and parks in a city as populated as Austin. “Austin is a growing city that is home to over 250,000 dogs,” Hand says. “Venturing into our parks might seem like a simple trip, but dogs, like humans, require supplies when visiting a park, such as water to drink, a leash and poop bags.” Educating others is also a part of the Bark Rangers program. Hand makes sure to emphasize to the park visitors the importance of ensuring parks are dog-friendly as well as protecting the dogs and Austinites.
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“Our dog populations generate roughly 150,000 pounds of waste every day!” Hand says. “When not disposed of properly, this waste can wash into our local waterways causing giardia, roundworms, salmonella and other unpleasant diseases.” Hand explains that caring for dogs in our parks benefits everyone’s health. Hand says excessive pet waste may result in higher nutrient levels. When this waste is combined with warm, slow-moving water, it can cause a spike in toxin-producing, bluegreen algae, making humans and dogs extremely ill. In some cases, the results are even fatal. Volunteering is also an essential aspect of the organization. “When looking for new volunteers, we want people who are passionate about their dogs and their parks,” Hand says.
