Canine Cove Turns 15

Canine Cove opened on December 5, 2009, and will turn 15 human years old this month (that’s 105 in dog years!)

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning around 10:30 AM, and already the Canine Cove was bark-full of canine chaos and camaraderie with over 15 romping, wagging, sniffing behaviors as their humans keep a watchful eye.

“All dogs who enter Canine Cove dog park are grateful to the Dog Park Committee and their hard work and determination in helping obtain enough donors to open our first Dog Park on Marco Island. Deborah Chapman, Jan Temkiewicz, and Kathy Keeling” This inscription was placed on a plaque on the back of the Waggin’ Wall, also called the Canine Cove rock, along with special mention to the following:

In Memory of Catharine C. Reiley – a lover of animals great and small. She passed away before Canine Cove opened, and thanks to her family’s donation to honor and to provide maintenance of the dog park.

In recognition of the untiring efforts of Deborah Chapman who made Canine Cove a reality. From every dog that will ever romp in this park!

Cassie Sullivan, Winner of the Dog Park Naming Contest for Canine Cove.

Marco’s Parks and Recreation Department hosted a dog-naming contest through Tommie Barfield Elementary School.

According to John and Debbie of Marco Island, their twice daily trips to the dog park are a “valuable part of our lives.” They bring their Golden retrievers, Bailey and Fancy. For them, the human aspect is also very important – to reconnect with friends and other dog lovers. This morning, Skipper, a nine-year-old Lab/Dachshund mix, brought his owner, Ceilidh Greenwood.

On the lake side of the Large Dog enclosure, older dogs greet newcomers with lots of sniffing and jumping around as a form of welcoming behavior. Bolder dogs start jumping around and running in circles and acting silly, as if to say, “Come play with me.” I observed a smaller breed dog sit down as if to say, “Leave me alone,” and as if following an unwritten set of etiquette, the group sorted things out. 

Important Rules For Inside Canine Cove 

1. Dog owners and handlers enter Canine Cove at their own risk. Dog owners and handlers are responsible for and liable with respect to the actions of their dogs and any damage or injury to person or property caused by them. 

2. Dogs and/or their owners or handlers who violate these rules are subject to removal from Canine Cove. The City of Marco Island reserves the right to refuse entry to dogs and/or their owners or handlers for the reasons of health, safety, and prior rule violations or for the comfort of all patrons and/or their pets. All dogs must have current vaccinations, be licensed, free of parasites and infections.

3. Must wear a collar with ID and current license tag.

4. All dogs must be leashed within the parking areas, and when entering and departing the off-leash areas of Canine Cove. Dogs must be in view of and within voice control of their owner or handler at all times.

5. Gates to the off-leash areas shall be kept closed at all times. 

6. No aggressive dogs, female dogs in heat or puppies under four (4) months old are allowed in Canine Cove.

7. All dog waste must be picked up promptly everywhere in the park including the walkways. Non-compliance may result in a $500.00 fine.

8. No children under the age of four (4) are admitted into the dog park. Children under the age of twelve (12) must be accompanied by an adult.

9. No more than two dogs per person may enter Canine Cove at all times. 

10. Dogs must be kept in the appropriate 'small' dog (under 25 pounds) or 'large dog' (25+ pounds) section of Canine Cove.

11. Canine Cove may be closed for routine maintenance and City sponsored events.

12. No smoking or food of any kind is permitted in Canine Cove.

13. Canine Cove is open from 8:00 a.m. till dusk.

14. In case of emergency, call 911.