What is RUFF?
RUFF stands for Renton's Unleashed Furry Friends, and is a non-profit
corporation chartered by the State of Washington. RUFF was established
in April 2009 with the goal of working in partnership with the City of
Renton to fund, build, and maintain an off-leash dog park pilot project
at a previously-designated site along the Cedar River Trail. RUFF is an
all-volunteer organization run by a core group of dedicated volunteers,
with meetings open to all interested individuals. RUFF works closely
with city staff at the Renton Community Center and the Parks &
Recreation Division to
Is RUFF a part of the S.O.D.A. organization?
RUFF received a good deal of advice and inspiration from the wonderful
people at S.O.D.A. (which manages both Marymoor and Grandview off-leash
areas), but RUFF is not associated with S.O.D.A. or any other dog park
organization.
Are donations to RUFF tax-deductible?
Yes! RUFF is a fund of the Renton Community Foundation (RCF), which has a
501(c)3 non-profit designation. Therefore, contributions made to RUFF
are fully tax-deductible under the law. Please see our donations page for more information.
How large is the dog park?
The dog park is approximately 3.75 acres in size, including the shy/small dog area.
Are you going to build a permanent shade/weather shelter in the dog park?
We are bound by very specific rules set forth by King County and the
state that prohibit the construction of permanent structures on the
site. As an alternative, we have temporarily erected a sturdy 10x20 ft.
canopy shelter inside the park, which we provides year-round protection
from the elements.
Will drinking water be available year-round?
Water will be available in the main off-leash area from April through
October, but will be shut off during the colder months due to the water
line's susceptibility to frost damage. It will be necessary for dog
owners to bring drinking water for their dogs during that period.
Are you going to build a second entrance at the far end of the park?
We recognize that a second entrance at the far SE end of the dog park
would be convenient for many people, so we plan to build another
double-gated entry corral there in 2010. The gate will connect to the
existing short pathway leading to the Cedar River Trail. If you'd like
to volunteer to help build the second entrance, please fill out our volunteer form.
Are there plans to install lighting at the dog park?
We would love to install lighting at the dog park and along the initial
segment of the Cedar River Trail leading to the dog park. Doing so would
allow the dog park to be used in the evening hours year round.
Unfortunately, our efforts to install lighting have been stymied by
state and county land use requirements. It's complicated. But we're not
giving up quite yet, and we intend to push for lighting in 2010.
Who picks up the dog waste?
You do! RUFF provides degradable "Mutt Mitts" at three (soon to be four)
locations in the dog park, and there is also a Mutt Mitt dispenser at
the head of the Cedar River Trail. We ask that users of the dog park
keep an extra Mutt Mitt or plastic bag available at all times,
especially when leaving or entering the dog park via the Cedar River
Trail.
Is Renton putting in money toward this park?
Yes, the City of Renton has committed to matching a maximum of $50,000
over two years for the off-leash area. The city's contribution will be a
dollar-for-dollar match of the private funds raised by RUFF. RUFF was
required to raise a minimum of $20,000 in cash and in-kind donations
before construction of the dog park could proceed, which we accomplished
in June 2009. Due to the success of RUFF's private fundraising, it's
entirely possible that the city will end up spending much less than
$50,000 over two years.
Why is the city spending money for a dog park in these tough times?
The amount of money the city has committed
to spending for the dog park over two years is a fraction of a
percentage of the overall Parks & Recreation budget, and since it's
considered a capital project, it falls into an area of the budget that's
entirely separate from staff salaries, groundskeeping, and recreation
programs. In other words, the dog park is not taking money away from any
other project or service. That said, it has always been RUFF's
intention to raise as many private funds as possible for the dog park,
so as to reduce the city's overall financial obligation. In fact, RUFF
is well on its way to privately funding the vast majority of the
dog park's expenses for at least two years, including most of the
construction costs, thanks to individual donations, corporate
sponsorships, and volunteer labor.
I heard this is just a temporary dog park.
While it's true the city has only committed to providing the site for a
two year pilot project, that is traditionally how off-leash areas are
set up by municipalities. We fully anticipate the dog park to exist on
this site for longer than two years, but we can't say it will be there
"forever."
Wasn't the same area designated for a sports area and soccer field?
The City's long term plan calls for building sports fields at the site
of the off-leash area, but funding for such fields is contingent upon
the reconstruction of the I-405/SR-169 interchange, which is many years
away. We have no way of knowing what may happen between now and then,
but if the dog park is a great success, there will certainly be a great
deal of discussion regarding its possible relocation.
Is there an area for shy or small dogs?
Yes, we have built a separate fenced area for small or shy dogs that
aren't comfortable playing in the main dog park. The small dog area is
about 8,000 sq ft. and has a separate gated entrance. There are no firm
rules regarding what size dogs can use the smaller area, so we ask that
dog owners use their best judgment in gauging whether their dogs are a
good fit for the area. Dogs of all sizes are welcome to use the
small/dog area as a secure "socialization" area when it's not in use by
others; this can be a good option if a larger dog needs to be introduced
slowly into the off-leash environment.
Is the dog park wheelchair accessible?
The pathway from the unimproved parking area to the off-leash area is
not officially wheelchair accessible, and the City of Renton has no
plans to pave the pathway. As an alternative, RUFF will be building a
new entrance to dog park at the far end of the off-leash area. It will
be directly connected to the Cedar River Trail via a short pathway of
crushed rock, which should be easier for wheelchairs to negotiate. The
new entrance will not be "mulched," either. Please stay tuned for the
latest news on the new entrance.
Where is parking located?
Parking for the off-leash area is available in the unimproved lot at the
head of the Cedar River Trail, located under the I-405 overpass.
Parking is also available along the street leading to the trail head.
See our driving directions
page for details. In addition, there are quite a few parking spaces
available on the other side of the Cedar River at the Renton Community
Center's west parking lot, which is easily accessed via the pedestrian
bridge spanning the river.
What is the greatest need right now?
While we will always need to continue raising money for on-going
maintenance and improvements to the off-leash area, what we need most
right now is for people to sign up to volunteer to help improve and
maintain the park. The more helping hands, the better!
Will dogs be able to swim in the Cedar River? No, the dog park is located on the opposite side of the Cedar River
Trail from the Cedar River, and there is no access to the river itself.
Should dog owners choose to take their dogs into the Cedar River before
or visiting the dog park, they will need to do so on-leash.
I'd like to volunteer. How can I contribute?
The best thing to do would be to complete the volunteer form on our website, and also to attend our next planning meeting; check the Upcoming Events page for details.
Who is maintaining the dog park?
Most of the park maintenance, (general clean-up, mutt mitt restocking,
mulch distribution, etc.) is handled by RUFF volunteers. The City of
Renton is handling the waste disposal through Waste Management.
Why did you install split rail fencing?
Other dog parks, including Marymoor and Grandview, use split rail
fencing for ease of installation, cost effectiveness and durability. It
can be easily relocated, as the posts will be set in gravel and dirt,
not in concrete. The City of Renton has required that any fencing
installed on the dog park site be of a non-permanent nature.
My dog was attacked by an aggressive dog in the dog park! Why do you allow such dogs in the off-leash area? Human visitors to dog parks are often alarmed by apparently
aggressive behavior in other dogs, and may be frightened for the safety
of their own dogs, leading to confrontations with other dog owners. An
"aggressive" dog, as RUFF defines it, is a dog that causes physical
injury to another dog or human, or consistently threatens, bullies, or
intimidates dogs or people, and whose behavior cannot be controlled by
its owner. Rough play (without injury or bullying), especially in
younger dogs, is often interpreted as aggressive behavior, when it's
usually just part of the normal spectrum of dog social interactions. The
saying, "they'll work it out," is usually applicable to such
situations, as dogs are incredibly skilled at developing their own
social hierarchies, without bloodshed. So-called "dominant" behavior --
such as posturing, growling, mounting, chasing, and nipping -- is
frequently a part of developing that hierarchy in settings like a dog
park, and it usually passes very quickly once dogs have a chance to set
their boundaries. However, it's important for dog owners to monitor their dogs' interactions and intercede when play gets too rough.
RUFF recommends the using "shaker cans" (soda cans with coins in them)
to distract dogs. A few cans are usually available for shared use within
the dog park.
If a dog exhibits such behavior on a continual basis, leading to
frequent scuffles with other dogs and creating a constant atmosphere of
intimidation and harassment within the off-leash area, then the dog
should be removed from the dog park. The
same rule applies to human visitors! Final authority on whether a
particular dog will
be allowed to use the park will rest with the Renton Police
Department's Animal Control officers. Users of the off-leash area are
encouraged to call 911 if they feel threatened by the behavior of
particular dogs (or people).
Are certain breeds of dogs not be allowed in the park?
Renton does not have breed-specific legislation preventing any breed of
dog from using City-owned spaces where dogs are allowed. All dogs
meeting the behavioral standards posted at the park entrance will be
welcome in the off-leash area. The off-leash area will not allow dogs of
any type or breed that exhibit clearly aggressive behavior toward other
dogs or humans (see the definition of "aggressive" above).