[Archived] City of Alexandria Reminds Dog Owners About Rules to Remember with their Four-Footed Friends

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2011

For many Alexandrians, there is nothing better than a walk or a run with their four-footed friend. Dogs are welcome in public parks but are to be kept secured by a leash unless in a designated dog exercise area or dog park. Dogs are not permitted in certain areas as marked by official City signage, including athletic fields, playgrounds, and school grounds.

The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities provides eighteen dog exercise areas and fenced dog parks for the convenience and enjoyment of City residents. Unfenced off-leash dog exercise areas have defined boundaries marked by bollards and are designated locations for dogs and their owners to exercise and recreate without disrupting other uses of the parks. Dog owners who believe their pets are not safe in an open exercise area are encouraged to visit a fenced dog park.

Please remember that regardless of whether a dog is in an off-leash or open area, if it defecates on public property the owner/handler of the dog must immediately remove the waste and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.

For complete listing of City of Alexandria Dog Parks & Exercise Areas, and to obtain a copy of the Dog Owner’s Guide to Enjoying the Parks of Alexandria, visit Dogs in Alexandria.