Dog owners debate feces

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A popular Austin dog park could be off-limits to off-leash pets. For almost two years, Austin’s Water Protection and Development Department has been looking into the link between dog feces at the Bull Creek off-leash dog park, and rising E. coli levels at Northwest Austin's Bull Creek District Park.

"What we do is look for all probable sources," said Chris Herrington at the City of Austin's Watershed Protection Department.
Herrington has tested Bull Creek's waters many times.

According to data from his department, E. Coli levels near the dog park are nearly three times higher than any other of the five test sites on Bull Creek.

Herrington believes dog feces contribute to that problem.

"[We] do what we can to try to eliminate that fecal load from getting into the creek," he said.

According to city officials, multiple upcoming public meetings are scheduled to gather feedback about potential dog restrictions, as a result of the department's findings.

Herrington said the meetings will address plans for re-vegetating the areas adjacent to Bull Creek.

The meetings are tentatively scheduled for:

- Environmental Board briefing - August 19
- Parks Board briefing - August 25
- Public hearing at the joint Environmental/Parks Board Sub-committee - during the week of August 31

Debra Bailey along with many other dog lovers at this park say recent sewage spills and even dirty diapers left in the creek contribute to the bacteria problem.

She said it target dogs as the sole cause or rising bacteria.

"The dogs are a contributing factor, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out," she said.

"It also doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the dirty diapers in the creek are a contributing factor," Bailey added.
 

Below is a link to a report describing the first phase of the extensive investigation of elevated bacteria levels the City conducted in the park area, beginning in 2007. Herrington said both government and residents must consider Texas Parks and Wildlife Code citation is 59.134(e)(4) when deciding on the fate of the off leash dog park.

It reads, "It is an offense to..permit a pet animal in the water of a designated swimming area or to permit a pet animal..within the land or beach area adjacent to the water of a designated swimming area."

Dog owner John Cienki said he and may other dog lovers at the park will attend every meeting to make sure dogs do not get the entire blame.

"Dogs and their owners are a big part of Austin, and punishing the most vulnerable isn't the way a just city should do business," he said.