Scratch ‘n’ Sniff

Tongue flopping, a tan greyhound raced wildly in large circles, leaving a small pack of mixed breeds behind.

A stumpy basset hound sniffed tails with an Australian sheep dog. When a Frisbee was tossed into the sky, seven dogs jumped for it.

It was a dog day Sunday at the opening of the 1.1-acre stretch of grass called Pooch Park.

Although the opening of the county’s fourth dog park was not widely publicized, by 10:30 a.m. about 30 dogs were romping sans leash in the park under a cloudless sky, as their owners looked on.

“We’re very excited,” said Rick Butler as he left Pooch Park with Dakota, his shaggy yellow Labrador. “Not having to keep them on a leash makes all the difference.”

Pooch Park is an $80,000 fenced-in section of grass with three small--and very popular--trees.

There is one small canine amenity--a fountain that requires a dog to make like Lassie and press a lever with its paw to send a stream of water into a bowl about 6 inches from the ground.

Like skateboarders looking for a legal place to practice, dog owners chafe under leash laws at most parks, beach and recreation areas.

More cities are reserving space for dogs to run free; in Orange County, Laguna Niguel joins Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa.

“Dog parks are on the increase, there’s no doubt about it,” said Public Works Director Ken Montgomery. “People want more area for their pets to run loose.”

It’s not a concept that’s for every city. This year, a group of Fullerton dog-lovers gave up trying to convince City Hall of the need for a dog park. City officials said they couldn’t find a place where neighbors wouldn’t object.

Although Pooch Park was built without protest, Montgomery has heard criticism of spending public money to benefit animals.

However, he said, ultimately humans are the ones asking for a place to exercise their dogs.

“There’s probably a sizable amount of people in the community who don’t have kids but have dogs,” Montgomery said. “We’re basically spending money on behalf of dog owners.”

Although South County might seem to have a lot of open space for dogs, coyotes and rattlesnakes pose a threat, some pet owners say.

Others say their lots are too small for their dogs to really get revved up.

“My greyhound doesn’t have much room to exercise,” said Gaye McDonald, president of the Pooch Park Committee, a group of about 15 volunteers who are raising funds to install benches and more trees in the park. “Dogs like to be free like kids like to skate. They like to run and play with other dogs. This fenced-in area will entitle them to be leash-free.”

Laguna Niguel has proved itself an animal-friendly place in the past.

When a poll showed that residents overwhelmingly did not want to euthanize strays, the City Council voted in 1995 to contract with the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter, which does not routinely kill the animals.

For their $80,000, the residents of Laguna Niguel not only got a canine playground, but a place for their owners to socialize.

On Sunday, many owners stood in groups, chatting as their dogs made friends.

“Junior has never been around another dog since he was a pup, and I’ve always felt a little guilty about that,” said Laguna Niguel resident Tom Reynolds, as his boxer mix nipped playfully at the heels of a German shepherd.

“This park will be good for both of us.”