A gated area keeps dogs safe at Sunrise Paw Park, 114515 County Road 166, Baggett Road in Tyler. The new dog park has separate areas for large dogs and small dogs as well as drinking fountains and a dog wash station. The Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club and the Anderson-Vukelja Foundation collaborated on the project which was privately funded. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Hal and Melissa Schlattner said they have a good-sized yard for their two Huskies to play. They have a doggie door for Montana and Takoda to go outside whenever they desire. But the couple really wanted a place they could take their dogs so they could run untethered and socialize with other dogs. After two years of planning, the Schlattners and thousands of pet owners in Tyler have a place where their dogs can run and play without a leash.

“Tyler needed a place like this. I was a fearful at first to be out with so many dogs, but you can just see that it’s not a problem and the dogs are happy,” Mr. Schlattner said. “They get to run around off-leash and socialize with other dogs and dog owners can socialize. This is a very good thing and it was much needed.”

The Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club and the Anderson-Vukelja Foundation cut the leash and let the dogs out in the four-acre off-leash dog park. Hundreds of dogs and dog owners came out to be a part of the grand opening and leash cutting Saturday at the Sunrise Paw Park.

“It was a dream of ours to have a dog park in Tyler,” Dr. Larry Anderson said. “We owned the land and with the help and contributions of a water well and gravel for the parking lot, we started to work on it.”

Jo Dobbs, the Sunrise Rotary Club dog park coordinator, said the club joined with the Anderson-Vukelja foundation on the project to further the club’s mission of giving back to the community and develop the project as a service to the people of the community.

“We received over $250,000 in donations to do this project,” Ms. Dobbs said. “There will be on-going maintenance to keep the park maintained. We have many ways in which the community can help and we know the community will be there for us.”

When the park was being planned, the team visited other dog parks in the area to see what the Sunrise Paw Park could do differently.

“We have a well-lit dog park,” Anderson said. “This park can be used all year long and you can feel safe because it’s well lit.”

The park has an area for small dogs and a separate area for large dogs. Water fountains for dogs and humans allow everyone to stay hydrated. There are two sun shades to get out of the sun.

The Bark and Wash station is a self-service dog wash that is air conditioned and heated. For a fee of $10 for 12 minutes, owners can wash their dogs after they’re done playing in the park. The wash station allows a dog owner to choose a shampoo, wash them off, vacuum them and dry them with the dryer.

“The wash station is necessary at the end of the day especially if it’s muddy like it is today,” said Velmay Power, of Bullard. “It’s a really good idea to have it here at the dog park.”

After the leash cutting, a contest was held to honor the largest, smallest and cutest dogs at the park. Vendors were on hand to trim dogs’ nails and pass out goodies bags with treats and toys.

 

Box:

Contest winners

Cutest Dog: Esmay, a Miniature Australian Shepherd, owned by Breanna Michels

Largest Dog: Hoss, a 120-pound Great Dane, owned by Elizabeth Weaver

Smallest Dog: Chewie, a Maltese and Yorkie mix, owned by Mattie Hazelwood

 

 

What people are saying:

 

“I don’t have a fenced in yard and my dog, Rylee, doesn’t have other dogs to play with. This is great for Tyler. It’s giving dogs a chance to be free and have fun and not be on a leash.”

– Sandy Baker

 

“I was a little worried about her being around a lot of other dogs,” Mattie Hazelwood said. “She’s loving the dog park so far. We’re going to make a trip here at least once a week.”

– Breanna Michaels

 

“Baylor loved the park. We haven’t been to a dog park and we couldn’t wait for it to open. We live in an apartment and there isn’t a place to run.”

-Tracy Cox

 

“I’m with the group Rose City Pits and Pets and we got a group together to come out. Rhino is an American Bully. He’s excited and seems to be liking it.”

– George Medina

 

If you go:

 

Sunrise Paw Park, 11415 County Road 166

 

Visit tylersunrisepawpark.com for more information.

 

Donations can be mailed to Tyler Sunrise Rotary Foundation, PO Box 8383, Tyler, TX, 75711.