News and Events

These items are blog entries. If you want to comment on any of these -- or the DogBlogs below -- just click on the bolded title.

Thank you, Ruff Wear and Healthy Paws!

The Demo Sale fundraiser was a big success. A huge thanks to Ruff Wear and Healthy Paws for supporting DogPAC!

What are the access priorities? Check out the DogPAC survey report

Dog owners have spoken -- see what they said in the DogPAC survey report.

Etiquette

The more we practice good dog etiquette, the stronger our case for access. We'll develop more specific etiquette guides for trails, dog parks, etc. In the meantime, here are some general tips to get started.

Meredith's series on KOHD -- cheat grass and heatstroke

Meredith Gage does a dog series on KOHD -- with tips on everything from etiquette to first aid. Check out the recent features on cheat grass and heatstroke.

Proposal to Parks and Rec

DogPAC presented its proposal for expanded off-leash access in city parks to the Bend Parks and Rec Board Tuesday, May 20th. Check out the proposal and presentation.

Latest DogBlogs

Summer!

Welcome!

We are an organization dedicated to keeping Central Oregon dog-friendly and promoting off-leash opportunities in city parks and on forest trails. We believe in responsible dog guardianship -- in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our parks, and in our forests -- for the sake and safety of our dogs and our community.

Since 2007, dog guardians have been working with the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District (Bend Parks and Rec) and the U.S. Forest Service to improve off-leash access in Central Oregon. Together, we have made progress:

• The Bend City Council removed the requirement that off-leash areas be fenced.
• Bend Parks and Rec is in the process of developing off-leash access at selected parks in Bend.
• The Forest Service has relaxed the 2003 restrictions on off-leash access along the Deschutes River Trail and in the Three Sisters Wilderness.
• Dog guardians worked with the Forest Service to create Oregon's first dog-friendly groomed ski/snowshoe trail at Wanoga Sno-park.

DogPAC was formed because there is still much to be done. We welcome the progress, but we believe that off-leash access for Central Oregon's dog guardians is still inadequate -- considering the resources available and the large number of responsible dog guardians seeking to utilize those resources without leash restrictions. Many of the breeds common in Central Oregon need off-leash exercise to remain healthy and well-behaved (a tired dog is a good dog). We believe that additional opportunities for off-leash access will benefit both dog guardians and the "off-leash averse" (those not wishing to encounter off-leash dogs in city parks or the national forest).

Dog guardians currently utilize many city parks and national forest trails for off-leash recreation, despite the restrictions and risk of expensive fines, because they have few options for legal off-leash use of high quality recreation sites -- sites within walking distance of their homes or with water access for swimming. If we provide legal off-leash access at several high quality areas, we will reduce the use in areas that remain leash-restricted. The experiences of other communities, in Oregon and around the country, demonstrate that Bend and Central Oregon can be much more dog-friendly, while still respecting the interests of the off-leash averse.

Join DogPAC and help us find better ways to share the public lands that we all enjoy as recreationists, own as citizens, and fund as taxpayers.

Our vision

A community in which dog guardians have access to public lands that provide quality and convenient recreation experiences. Dog guardians are responsible and considerate of others; all residents are tolerant of each other and willingly share public spaces. Dogs help connect residents with each other, thereby strengthening community bonds.