On the morning of September 1, 2014, my dog Kona was severely injured by a hinge in the fence at the Barber Dog Park in Orlando, FL. While playing and running with the dogs at the park, a hinge on the fence sliced into her skin and caused a massive laceration to her side approximately 8-9" long. I rushed Kona to the veterinary hospital and they immediately took her into surgery. While Kona was in their care, I drove back to the dog park to take photos and videos of the dog park area, its fence, and the hinge that cut Kona, her blood and fur still stuck to the metal. I was horrified to discover that the fence structure surrounding the entire dog park area contained dozens of hinges identical to the one that cut her. It is very important to note that the hinge did not appear to be damaged or in a state of disrepair - that its normal state and inherent design was enough to seriously injure Kona just by coming in contact with her skin. That afternoon, I filled out an application to file an Incident Report, complete with a handwritten statement and cell phone photos, and went home to wait for news about Kona.



Four hours later, we brought Kona home with dozens of stitches, a drainage tube, an e-collar, and multiple medications. Our veterinarian said that the cut was very deep, but luckily didn’t damage any of her organs.



The nights that followed were terrible, but that first night was absolutely heartbreaking. I slept with her on a blanket on the floor as she shook and cried and shifted endlessly from the pain. There was nothing I could do except try to comfort her.



Her recovery was tough, but more than two months later - thanks to the amazing work of her veterinarians, help from our friends and family, and lots of rest and love - she is pretty much healed. Through it all, she was still her sweet, happy self. But this whole horrible incident should have never even happened. A simple visit to a public, government managed dog park should not have resulted in a traumatic injury, months of emotional stress, and $1,000+ in veterinary bills. On their website, Orange County Parks & Recreation claims that their dog parks are “safe places to let your dog run and socialize” (http://www.orangecountyfl.net/CultureParks/DogParks.aspx#.VGwwxCRe2tA), but Barber Dog Park proved to be anything but. If the hinges on their fences in their normal state can so severely injure my dog, who was running and playing in the park as the signs on the property encourage her to do, who else could be injured - dog, child, adult - and how much worse? What will it take for the government to realize that they endanger everyone who visits the park with each passing day that the fence remains unchanged?



As of today, November 19, more than 60 days after Kona’s injury, Orange County FL’s government has yet to respond in any way to my Incident Report, and the fence structure at Barber Dog Park remains unchanged. When I requested to see a copy of the handwritten statement I’d submitted the day of Kona’s injury, I was told by a county representative that they “could not get a hold of it”. Furthermore, during a phone conversation with the insurance representative handling Kona’s claim, she told me that my dog “should have watched where she was going” and that she was going to recommend that Orange County deny my claim. This is unacceptable. So Kona and I are asking for your help.



I’m petitioning Orange County FL’s Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County FL’s Board of Commissioners, and Orange County FL’s Parks & Recreation Department to modify or reconstruct their dangerous fences in Barber Park, and in any of the other parks in Orange County that have the same dangerous hinge structures, so that no other park patron can be injured by it again. No one should have to fear for their dog’s or for their own safety when they visit a public park designated for them. Nor should they be ignored or blamed for their own injury when a wrongful incident occurs. Please help me right this wrong so that Kona’s suffering was not in vain. Help me make sure that Orange County FL’s parks are truly safe for everyone.

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