Dr. Marlene Kelley and her dog, Tux, spend long days together at the office. Kelley is a veterinarian in a rotating internship with Veterinary Care & Specialty Group on Broad Street, and Tux, a half lab/half golden retriever, clocks in with her.
Kelley says Tux is always on his best behavior on the job and mostly keeps to his bed in the office.
“I think it’s because when I bring him into the clinic, there’s a lot of scents — stress hormones — that he’s probably smelling, and [he’s] hearing animals in pain,” says Kelley, whose job stresses are similar.
So when the day is done, they both like to unwind at Play Wash Pint, a dog park with a bar. While Kelley kicks back with a beer, Tux lets loose and runs the yard.
(READ MORE: Dog park coming to Chattanooga Choo Choo)
“He’s like a completely different dog,” Kelley says. “He just goes crazy — crazy in a good way. He needs it. He very much minds his own at work; I never hear a peep. But at the dog park, it’s ‘there goes Tux!'”
While dog parks can be found throughout Chattanooga, many are community efforts that focus on the basics: a grassy field where dogs can run and play, equipment for exercise and stimulation, stations for water and waste disposal, benches for owners to rest and wait (or sit and stay, from a dog’s perspective).
Only a couple of places provide a more sensory-filled experience for dogs and their humans. Play Wash Pint, which opened in 2017, and GoDog Chattanooga, which followed in 2022, offer one-stop amenities designed to make life easier, even more enjoyable, for dog owners. Adult beverages are just one of the perks.
(READ MORE: GoDog Chattanooga celebrates one-year anniversary with innovative expansion)
At both parks, dogs play on antimicrobial turf designed for canine use. Fountains gurgle with fresh water. Fans, heaters and misters provide comfort in all seasons.
The artificial turf at Play Wash Pint was among the selling points for Payton Potter and his mutt, Max, since community dog parks may have more mud than grass, depending on the weather.
“It’s nice to come here and let him play on the turf,” says Potter, who was a regular at the park before he was hired as a manager there. “He goes home clean.”
Another advantage of the monitored dog parks is health and safety. “You know all the dogs here are vaccinated; you know all are relatively healthy dogs,” says Jaimie Shaw, campus director at GoDog.
“They’re staffed with dog professionals keeping an eye on dog behavior and safety, so everybody is having fun and staying safe,” she says. “It’s a great space to come and have a beverage and talk to other nice dog people.”
Special events also draw interest. Play Wash Pint has held Pawscars ceremonies, an Oscars for dogs, that awarded, among other honors, prizes for most athletic and best smile. The seventh anniversary party included a pie-eating contest for dogs. A recent “Play Wash Pose” event welcomed dogs during yoga.
Likewise, GoDog has sponsored College Game Days, Pet Industry Nights and Date Nights. Shaw says she’d like to expand the date nights, which are designed mostly as a stop for beverages for couples on an outing, to become a speed-dating mixer, since so many people bond over their dogs.
Both facilities cater to residents of nearby apartments, as well as to other urban residents whose yards may be stamp-size and their off-leash options limited. It’s especially important for owners whose dogs are kept inside all day. GoDog has doggy day care on-site, as well as overnight boarding. Play Wash Pint’s day care, Play Wash Stay, is a few blocks away.
“Dogs are social creatures, and I think it’s good to remind ourselves of that, because most dogs don’t do well in isolation,” says Shaw. “Usually, if you have a dog with destructive behaviors or a nuisance bark, it’s solely out of boredom. They don’t have anything to do.”
Kelley, who moved to Chattanooga in May, says Play Wash Pint has been great for her and Tux before they go home to their apartment.
“I’ve made a lot of friends and even work connections through the dog park,” she says. “After work, it gives me a spot to let Tux run around. He makes all his friends [there], too. It definitely is an outlet for both species.”
Learn more about Play Wash Pint at playwashpint.com and GoDog Chattanooga at godoghq.com.
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