Section 2 addresses the role and place of domestic dogs in the community generally including the many important benefits of domestic pet ownership. The meaning of socially responsible pet ownership is explained as it relates to the owner's responsibilities to his or her pet and to minimising any adverse effects on the wider community.
Section 3 describes how dog owners have been affected by open space planning and management. The main policy responses to the question of dogs' access are identified. Because of the changing management environment we now need to plan more systematically for dogs and their use of public open space.
Section 4 looks first at the problems that tend to be attributed to dogs' use of public open space and then at why we should continue to accommodate their needs in the future.
Section 5 introduces a series of principles which should form the underlying basis for an access strategy for dogs.
Section 6 assesses the access options on the basis of the principles outlined in Section 5. It goes on to conclude that it is the combination of options overall that is important, not the provisions that exist in any one park. It recommends that a hierarchy of opportunities be provided for dog owners' daily, regular and occasional use. We develop a hypothetical example of a municipality to illustrate the principles. Section 6 concludes with implementation suggestions.
Section 7 contains recommendations for the selection, design and management of individual parks.