If dogs could read, they would have quite a trove of literature to dig through, from the fantastical romps of “Clifford the Big Red Dog” to Bukowski’s biting “Love Is a Dog From Hell.”
They would cuddle up with “Dog Soldiers,” “Straw Dogs” – and the classics: “Old Yeller” and “White Fang.”
Though people like Steve Sutton firmly believe dogs can read their owners’ actions and even emotions, even they don’t give literary power to four-leggers.
And even if a greatly diffident Great Dane or massively mellow mastiff could read – he or she, lacking the power of speech, would hardly be able to protest: “Just because I’m big don’t throw me in with those crazy actives!”
Hence, Sutton felt the need to speak up for the Chaparral dog parkers, after a significant – and, he insists, wildly unpopular – sign change.
During a six-month mission to change the dog park signs, he was generally told to “sit” and “stay” – but refused to roll over and play dead.
Rather, in what may serve as an example to other citizens unhappy with a city policy, he howled in protest, chasing city leaders like like a greyhound after a rabbit.
After begging his case to Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council meetings, the lone wolf formed a pack.
The case, boiled to the bone: In 2007, then-City Councilman – and later Mayor – David Ortega led a drive to create an off-leash dog park at the sprawling Chaparral Park.
The original dog park had two areas, marked “active” and “passive.”
Suddenly, in mid-2023, humans like Sutton were shocked to see those signs replaced with “big dogs” and “small dogs” signs.
“Nobody was happy with that,” Sutton said. “We pretty much ignored it.
“Most people,” the 66-year-old, longtime Scottsdale resident continued, “who are not real dog people think ‘we’ve got to protect the small dogs from large dogs.’ But it’s one of those counterintuitive things.
“Dog behavior is just as individual as human behavior. They are essentially 3-year-olds – 3-year-old humans. Their behavior is based on socialization, not their breeds or size.”
Though regulars kept taking their massive, mellow mutts to the small-dog side, newcomers were puzzled and, at times, outraged.
Fights became common – with humans barking at each other “stay on your side!” and “can’t you read?”
Armed with a petition signed by 500, Sutton returned to City Council Feb. 11.
While City Hall was packed with interest over the plan to end DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion), Sutton’s pack of 50 were there to talk DOG.
The first agenda item considered at the marathon Feb. 11 City Council meeting: “Continue to work with dog park users on updated messaging and improved placement of signage throughout the Chaparral Park Off Leash Activity area.”
Only Sutton spoke, however – as Mayor Lisa Borowsky made a motion to approve the agenda item, which received unanimous support.
“I’m happy with the decision,” Sutton said.
Sutton went to the dog park the day after the City Council meeting, and was pleased to see temporary directional signs referencing dog behavior – instead of size.
“I created the wording of the signs,” Sutton said.
He has been retired for a few years, but over the last six months, researching dog parks and organizing the fight to change signs has become a full-time job.
Sutton sunk his teeth into this subject and simply would not let it go.
His petition asked the city to remove signs directing dog owners to use their pet’s size to determine which dog run to use and install new signs directing pet owners to reference their dog’s behavior to guide which dog run to use.
The city manager’s office responded to the petition in December, recommending more public feedback and bringing the the issue to the Parks and Recreation Commission’s Feb. 19 meeting.
That didn’t satisfy Sutton, who filed a second petition Jan. 14, repeating his group’s demands.
Sutton, a 1976 graduate of Scottsdale High, has three dogs: Marty, Zoe and Chewy.
The new dog park signs are more in line with the behavior-oriented ones that Steve Sutton fought for.
He is a U.S. Army veteran who worked in construction trenches and office jobs before retiring. Sutton said his experience on the board of directors of his HOA “taught me a lot about what I needed to do to see this through.”
Overall, he said, it was a fairly easy fight. After all, it was something he believed in – “and I didn’t have to ask people for money.”
Over the last six months, City Council meetings have been the stage for Shakespearean dramas, from anxiety over Axon to the rollercoastering “Sustainability Plan.”
At nearly every meeting, the bulldogging Sutton led off the public comments section with pointed remarks he promised would retrieve a golden era.
Nearing the finish line of this marathon, Sutton said he hopes people who witnessed the power of patient, persistent protest will follow his lead.
“I encourage citizens to use this kind of process,” he said, “as opposed to coming to Council and just yelling and screaming or just giving up.”
And, even after his changes are fully implemented, Sutton will be on the lookout for bad behaviour – from humans.
“It’s not just signs,” he said, “but educating users to use responsible dog park behavior.”
If he could add another sign, it would be:
“Watch your dog – not your phone.”
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