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RIO RANCHO, N.M. — More than 70 percent of residents who took the city’s online survey said they would like to see Rio Rancho allow dogs in parks.

Nearly 81 percent of them said they own dogs.

The results of the survey, taken by 557 people, were released Monday night during a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Public comments made during the meeting were split equally between those in support and those against allowing dogs to visit city parks.

Currently, dogs are allowed in only one of the city’s 43 developed parks in addition to seven designated dog parks. The Parks and Recreation Department is exploring whether to lift the ban and went to the public for its opinion. Owners would be allowed to bring their dogs to any park provided the animal is on a leash and its waste is not left behind.

The commission voted to table the item for another month, although commissioner Warren Rathjen made a motion to allow dogs in parks but failed to get a second, which killed the motion.

Resident Donna Beckett, who is a dog owner, told the commission she was worried how dogs and children would interact, saying not all children have been around dogs and vice versa. She said she witnessed a fight between two dogs on a leash in Cabezon Park a few years ago and that not all owners will be responsible.

“Parks are for children and dog parks are for dogs,” she said. “I’m a pet owner but I would not bring my pets to the park and become a nuisance to others.”

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Maren McRell, who was wearing a T-shirt advertising a doggie daycare, said a few irresponsible dog owners should not ruin it for others. Dogs, she said, should be allowed in city parks.

“Nothing will stop the irresponsible owners,” she said. “They will continue to take them there anyway. What you need is more enforcement.”

Albuquerque has 13 dogs parks but allows canines in all of its other parks if they are on a leash, with the exception of Balloon Fiesta Park. Jen Samp of the Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department said the city does not receive very many complaints about owners allowing their dogs to run loose in parks.