Here’s the Scoop : If Dog Owners Follow Rules at Huntington Beach Park, It Stays Open

Little dogs, big dogs, mutts and pedigree pooches panted and played in the mud Saturday at the opening of the city’s first park for canines.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Dick Peterson, who turned out with Sarah, a retired racing greyhound. “It allows her to run, which is what she likes to do. She’s very social so she enjoys running with other dogs.”

“There are no other places like this,” said Frank Cramer, who brought Alexander the Great, a great Dane, and Girlfriend, a retriever mix.

“It’s dog heaven!” said Larry Moore, who came with his Welsh terrier, Baxter.

Rain almost delayed the 11 a.m. opening of the dog park, set off in a section of Huntington Central Park. But more than 40 owners with their dogs were eager to inaugurate the park where their pets can run and play off their leashes. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was postponed until next Saturday.

“We had a pretty good turnout,” said Don Thompson, who helped spearhead a fund-raising effort to open the park. “I was pleased to see how many people came out to support it.”

A committee of dog owners raised more than $2,500 to open the park because city officials said they didn’t have the money to place a fence around the nearly two-acre area, on Edwards Street north of Ellis Avenue.

For Norm and Carol Lovett, the park’s opening was a long-awaited dream. The couple tried to persuade the city to open a dog area at Edison Community Park more than two years ago, but residents opposed the idea of barking dogs near their homes.

“We’re thrilled with the response,” said Carol Lovett as she watched her two Australian shepherds, Samantha and Brandy, run free in the park. “Now we just have to encourage everyone to help keep it going.”

The park is open from dawn to dusk daily for a three-month trial period. City officials then will review the park’s operations to determine whether it should remain open permanently.

Thompson said that if pet owners follow the rules, which include cleaning up after their dogs and not bringing aggressive animals, there shouldn’t any problems keeping the park running.

City Councilman Tom Harman attended Saturday’s opening with his boxer, Biggins, and said he too hopes the park will stay open.

“We had a good time,” Harman said. “I think this is going to be a real popular venue.”

The only pitfall of opening day was that Biggins and the other dogs left the park with muddy paws and coats.

“Now I have to figure out how to get my dog home without wrecking my car,” Harman said.