Cupertino’s Linda Vista Park recently held a spooktacular gathering for little and delicate dogs during their DOLA (Dog Off-Leash Area) hours. After Cupertino’s DOLA campaign began in 2017, Linda Vista Park’s Dog Off-Leash Area was established as one of the two DOLAs currently in Cupertino, the other being at Jollyman Park near De Anza College. DOLAs like these allow dogs of all sizes–the size depending on the time of day–to enjoy the outdoors leash-free in a designated area with their furry friends while maintaining a safe environment for every pet and resident. Off-leash areas also serve as neighborhood hubs for local dog lovers to socialize and share the fun.
On October 25th, pups dressed in adorable costumes and their owners gathered at Linda Vista Park to share the Halloween spirit! The event was a major success, with around twenty dogs participating in the fun by playing with other dogs, showing off their unique costumes, and bringing their owners together for a wonderful evening. Popular doggy attire at the event included Cosmo’s prisoner suit, Lollipop’s cowboy outfit, Crystal’s Snow White dress, and Jamie’s hot dog costume! Check out a video featuring all of the playful pups wearing their costumes and their owners here.
Our own Walk Bike Cupertino Board Member Louise Saadati organized the event and took these pictures and the video. Louise has been a Cupertino resident for over 37 years, lately coordinating with community members and the city to develop these spaces. “We’ve been working with the city since 2017 to establish DOLAs while ensuring we meet city regulations including that the dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times,” Louise explained. Rules such as these ensure the safety of all pets and residents at DOLAs and make them delightful and accessible for all. (See rules graphic.) Louise also informed us that a DOLA at Memorial Park is currently in the works of being created, and can be expected to be open to residents in the near future. The Linda Vista DOLA is open to all sizes of dogs from 8am to noon each day. Little and delicate dogs only can use it from 3 hours before sunset to sunset each day as well.
The success of the Halloween party highlights the value and importance of DOLAs as community spaces in Cupertino that bring people together while providing much-needed off-leash exercise and socialization areas for local pets. The positive response to this event also suggests that Cupertino residents are eager for more dog-friendly events and activities. As the popularity of designated DOLAs increases as safe and legal alternatives to traditional dog parks, we can expect to see more events such as these in the future. The enthusiasm of Cupertino’s dog-friendly residents is sure to make any doggy-friendly event a success!
