The following rules are strictly enforced at the Cedar River Dog Park:
- The off-leash dog park is for dogs, their handlers and those accompanying them. No other use is allowed.
- No animals other than dogs shall be permitted in the area.
- All dogs must be legally licensed and vaccinated in the city or county of their residence, and shall wear a visible dog license and vaccination tags. Pet license forms for dogs residing in Renton are available at the Renton Community Center, Renton City Hall, and online at the City of Renton's website.
- Dogs under 4 months of age and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
- Dogs must be on leash when entering and exiting the off-leash dog area.
- Handlers must have all dogs under their control and within their view at all times.
- Handlers must be 16 years of age or older.
- Handler is limited to a maximum of three dogs.
- For safety reasons, please remove any and all pinch (prong), choke, or spike collars from dogs prior to entering the park.
- Dogs must be removed at the first sign of aggression.*
- Parents are strongly discouraged from bringing children under 12 years of age. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Children should at no time be allowed to run with or chase after dogs in the park.
- For safety reasons, please do not bring people food into the park.
- Handlers are required to pick up after their dogs, even when outside the off-leash area.
- Handlers are responsible for providing water for their dogs. If a handler fails to provide adequate water, the liability for pet health falls upon the handler.
- Users of this facility do so at their own risk. Neither the City of Renton, nor Renton’s Unleashed Furry Friends (RUFF) shall be liable for any injury or damages sustained in utilization of the off-leash park.
*Notes about "aggressive" dogs:
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 in a disruptive manner, 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 simply 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 that dog owners carefully monitor their dogs' interactions for the warning signs of aggression or distress, and intervene appropriately as need. A firm voice command should be sufficient to end potential problems; if it isn't, then a dog may not be well-suited to an off-leash environment.
RUFF will soon have pictorial guides to dog behavior on display at the dog park's informational kiosk, which owners are encouraged to consult before using the dog park.
If a dog exhibits aggressive behavior (as defined above) 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).