almost one per district. And the number of 4-legged friends exceeds that of children

PADUA – In Padua The areas dedicated to dog walking are multiplyingwhich after the latest investments and interventions I’m now 41. An increasingly important service, given that in fact, numbers in hand, there are more dogs than children in the city. Thanks to the demographic winter and the multiplication of people who decide to have an animal close to them, the number of dogs in the city has seen a surge, reaching 30 thousand. A figure that illustrates the extent of the phenomenon when compared to that of the population in the age group between zero and 14 years: in fact, children stop at around 22 thousand.

A dog area for each neighborhood

A radical change in society that the institutions cannot help but take note of. So much so that, in the city alone, there are already 41 dog parks. In practice, with the exception of Brusegana and Sacro Cuore (but we are working on it here too) all districts can count on at least one area dedicated to these animals. From the beginning of 2024, dog areas have been created for a total extension of 3,900 square meters. It is the result of the latest interventions completed respectively at the Iris Park (where in conjunction with the tram works the already existing dog area was enlarged and is now the largest), in via Peschiera (where the redevelopment of the green led to the creation of a new 2,000 square meter dog area) and to the Alpini Park (where the Rilabo association inaugurated a new 1,500 square meter dog walking area). The administration’s objective is to create at least one dog area in each district and then intervene on the advice of the Councils where they do not yet exist. Furthermore, the large spaces available with the policies will be exploited expansion of greenery in large parks for the creation of dedicated areas that are suitable for the well-being of dogs and correctly inserted in the most suitable urban spaces.

Services, agility dog ​​and apps

Overall, there are 41 dog areas present in the city today for a total surface area of ​​54,377 square metres. The largest is that of Iris Park, followed by the one at Parco Mela Rossa in via Boccioni alla Mandria (3,668 metres) and by that of San Lazzaro (3,471 metres). All have special bins for collecting animal waste; in some there are also structures for dog agility, a sort of exercise course for dogs. Anyone who accompanies their dog in the dedicated area must ensure that it does not adopt aggressive attitudes towards other dogs or people. For access to all public and public use areas, including gardens and parks (with the exception of play areas marked as prohibited) all dogs must be kept on a leash. In equipped and marked areas they can be led without a leash and without a muzzle under the owner’s responsibility. The Municipality has also activated an agreement with the developers of the Ukidog app, created to reduce conflicts in interactions between animals and guarantee greater safety for those who take care of a dog and for those who frequent green areas. Through geolocation it is possible to search for the walking area or the place you intend to frequent by viewing the type of dogs that are frequenting the area at that moment (adult males, adult females, puppies, female pups, dogs on a leash or free, female dogs in heat). Furthermore, you can chat with other owners.

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