<bt>More than six months after a string of poisonings at the Tower Dog Park in South Arlington, some dog owners are still wary of the fenced canine enclosure, but others are organizing to make it safer.
"We're cautious," said Jennifer Pitcher as she watched her two Vizla pups play. "Everybody is cautious and observant."
Pitcher added that many dog owners went back on alert in June when a report of an attempted poisoning hit the e-mail list serve of Arlington Dogs, a dog owner's community group, but the anonymous account remains unconfirmed. Since the poisonings at Towers Park — which were linked to the death of at least one dog and illnesses which sent several others to veterinary offices — the mysterious hot dogs laced with an unidentified poison have not been seen on the park's grounds. Police have yet to release what kind of poison was used, although one dissected hot dog brought to investigators, according to police spokesman Matt Martin, revealed handful of white tablets lining its interior.
In response to the poisonings, Pitcher and other dog owners are now calling on the county to fund the installation of nighttime lighting at the park and several other improvements.
"It has been a real introduction to the county process," said Robert Schaaf, a regular at the park with his English springer spaniel named Mike. "It's bureaucratic."
Schaaf, Pitcher and other local dogs owners have proposed an array of six 250-watt Halide lights around the park on 15-foot poles. The county is preparing a study on the request. The lights would be fixed to a button near the entrance of the park. To illuminate the park for a short time, visitors would need to press it before entering, a measure to conserve energy rather than lighting the park all night. Schaaf added the proposal was made after lengthy consideration of the cost. The price tag for the lights, an estimated $20,000, makes the request a small budget item for the county.
Dog owners, who organized into a park advisory group, are also trying to get a parks enhancement grant from the county to raise the height of fences.
"Some dogs are able to jump over that fence," said Schaaf.
Dog owners are also lobbying to have the park's closing time changed. It now closes 30 minutes after sunset. To get their requests met, the county first had to circulate a survey to surrounding homeowners asking about the lights and the proposals from dog owners. The survey returned with more than 90 percent of residents in support of the plan.
"There was someone complaining about the noise from the dogs, but the county looked into it and decided that wasn't a factor," said Pitcher.
The only challenge that remains, Pitcher said, is raising the matching funds needed for the grants. The advisory group is hosting a fund-raiser at the park July 30 at 3 p.m. that Pitcher said will include a cookout and games for dogs.
The most recent victim of the poisonings was a Boston terrier named Bailey who spent weeks on dialysis after his kidneys failed. Police have one suspect in the crime, a man seen harassing dog owners near the park, but the investigation is ongoing.
Schaaf said the proposal to improve Towers Park will soon come before the Arlington County Board.