Are Dog Parks Nature’s Newest Spiritual Space?

The importance of dog parks as public spaces is hardly news to any dog’s companion. But could these spaces be the latest replacement for—or complement to—more traditional religious buildings? While watching one Sunday morning’s festivities in my beloved Central Park, I pondered this question.

As a promoter of practices like dog-human meditation and canine forest bathing, I’ve noticed that humans living with dogs have an advantage I covet. While you can often find me contently meditating with our feline housemates, Buba-ji and Deacon, I sometimes wish we could traipse along a wooded trail together rather than enjoy our home’s catio. Even the thought of getting these beloved-yet-fierce fluffy beings into my car—or on a leash—is preposterous, given their proven aversion to both.

Interspecies spiritual practices are on the rise as more people seek to deepen their connection with the habitats we refer to as nature (although I’ll fiercely debate that nothing is outside of nature). Movements like wild churches and vegan spirituality offer opportunities to deepen our interconnectedness while also providing exploration of the world’s seemingly uncountable human-animal ethical conflicts. Could dog parks provide a space for the same?

Auspiciously, as I pondered these questions, the divine Fido gave me even more to think about when I met Jack Sommer, producer of Dog Parkology, an innovative new podcast. “Expanding the definition of dog parks to more public spaces will increase our appreciation for the animals closest to us, as dogs act as intermediaries to the natural world,” observes Jack Sommer. “Dogs help us see the beauty of nature wherever we are, and this can inspire us to care for and protect the environment we all share.”

I caught up with Sommer and his team to learn about their conceptions of what dog parks could become—and why animal lovers should care.

Sarah Bowen: Dog Parkology’s mission is to raise awareness of the importance of dog parks as public spaces. Why are dog parks important? And what attributes do you think are most important for them to contain?

Jack Sommer: We feel that dog parks are one of the few remaining places that attract strangers from all walks of life to come together and connect. Since we have become more isolated through technology, it’s more important than ever to have public spaces like dog parks that enable in-person interactions of neighbors to help build a sense of community.

It’s important to have a variety of activity options for both dogs and humans. Playing together can bring you closer to your canine companion and stimulate their instincts to learn. This might include participating in agility activities, for example, or even going for a walk in a nature area filled with scented botanicals for your dog to investigate. Sometimes, your dog may prefer something other than a traditional fenced-in dog park. You can think “outside the fence” to find other public areas—like a beach or trail in the woods—as long as dogs are permitted to play there off-leash.

You’ve just completed your first season, which features conversations with guest experts who explore both public space use and human-dog relationships. What have been the biggest takeaways? What surprised you?

We learned that the concept of dog parks actually came about as a response to stricter leash law enforcement in the 1970s. Dog parents in Berkeley, California, originally pitched the concept as being just like any other park except where dogs could legally play off-leash. This “experimental dog park” was immensely popular, especially for the humans who connected with neighbors there in a new, exciting way. Fifty years later, nearly half of U.S. households include a dog, and they have become a key part of our lives. Today there are over 1,000 formally designated dog parks, but most remain very rudimentary. We were surprised to realize how little they have evolved.

One of the reasons dog parks are so important is that they are one of the few public spaces that have proven resilient over time. Even during COVID-19, the public was told to isolate and only gather outside, so dog parks provided one the few safe places to connect with our neighbors and gave a reason to just be outside.

Racialization of dogs and breed-specific bias have been significant issues for many people of color, and access to care is also an issue in impoverished communities. One of your episodes tackles equitable access for neighborhoods. Any thoughts about combining low-cost or free veterinary services within public dog parks created in neighborhoods with vet-care deserts?

Yes, unfortunately, the distribution of dog parks across all neighborhoods is not equitable in many cities. This can be seen in places like Chicago, where the vast majority of dog parks have been located in the whiter and wealthier side of town. Establishing more dog parks in lower-income neighborhoods can help provide resources to accommodate the needs of both human and non-human beings in our communities.

We believe dog parks can also be important public spaces with multidimensional uses and service offerings to attract more people to visit these community hubs. This can include the low-cost vet services you mentioned, which we recognize can be expensive or hard to find in some neighborhoods. Other resources could include dog behavior education classes, which could be a valuable draw for visitors and encourage responsible supervision for dogs.

As more and more dogs are treated as family (and research confirms this is the case), canine grief and bereavement have also become more acute. An interesting entanglement of these two trends has been the development of green cemeteries that are both pet memorials and dog parks, which seems to be a win/win for both land usage and the processing of grief. Would you support this idea?

This is an interesting idea. In general, we feel it’s important to consider how dog parks might serve multiple uses, especially if limited public space is available. Having dog parks double as a green cemetery could provide a place to celebrate our canine companions of both past and present.

One special destination we featured is Dog Mountain, a 150-acre dog park in Vermont founded by artist Stephen Huneck, who installed a Dog Chapel on the grounds. The space was decorated with his dog artwork, and people were encouraged to leave photos or write messages on the walls to their past dogs. Dog Mountain has this unique chapel, hosts community events, and provides a daily nature escape for citizens. We think the more we can bring in multidimensionality to dog parks as public spaces, the better.

Many people desire local regulations that allow for off-leash dog parks (and walks), yet these desires also bring concerns about dog bites for humans. A lesser talked-about concern is the potential harm to local wildlife. Some conservationists suggest that dogs have led to the extinction of a dozen species and threaten 200 more. What recommendations do you have for balancing the needs of all animals beyond just dogs?

We advocate for responsible off-leash dog walks, which means that your dog should be trained

to have reliable recall and only go where it is permissible. However, it’s also good to have the reassurance of a backup system. With the advancement of technology, devices like e-collars can help us communicate with and protect both our dogs and other animals. These e-collars can vibrate or beep to signal a dog to come back to your side. We created a special advisory episode for the series where we share insights from outdoor journalist Annette McGivney on how to be mindful of our actions and where we take our dogs.

Some critics of canine domestication suggest that our desire to live with dogs has led to other entangled issues, such as the significant environmental impact and immense animal suffering complicit in creating dog food. Have you tackled this issue yet in the podcast, and if so, have you learned anything that can help dog lovers be more responsible toward reducing suffering for other species (such as exploited cows, fish, and birds) and notice their own human-canine planetary impact?

While dog food was not a topic we directly explored on the show, we did discuss how spending time outdoors with our dogs can provide us with opportunities to feel a closer connection to nature. When we do, we can feel more empathy and responsibility towards protecting our planet and all the life within it.

We have heard our listeners say they are exploring more eco-friendly and sustainably made dog foods, such as those using plant-based ingredients or alternative protein sources. Choosing sustainably made products for your dog is a small but caring choice that makes a big difference to help protect the environment for all creatures.

The age-old “dog people vs. cat people” debate lives on in this final question: Over 68 percent of animals euthanized in shelters are cats—more than twice as many as dogs. Any ideas about public spaces, which help raise awareness of the human-feline bond and cat issues? Do you see a Cat Parkology or Cat Caféology on the horizon?

We know the human-cat bond is as equally important as the connection people have with dogs. For example, we have heard about people walking cats on leashes in Japan and are aware of many successful cat cafes that seem like they can be positive experiences for both cats and people. However, we have not explored this topic much, although it is certainly worthy of a deep dive. Right now, our hands are filled with our shows for dog people. However, who knows what the future may hold! We love all animals.

Dog Parkology is narrated by Jenna Blum, a New York Times bestselling author and features expert guests from diverse fields, including landscape architecture, anthropology, canine cognition, public policy, animal behavior, history, veterinary sciences, and dog training, among others. Listen here.