The recommendation requested that \u201cthe City Manager work with relevant City staff for a Council presentation on the dog park designation municipal process, including an evaluation of current inventory of off-leash areas and needs for additional locations within 120 days.\u201d The recommendation detailed the need for the study and specified that the council hasn\u2019t assessed citywide dog park ordinance considerations in over a decade, except for potential sites for a second dog beach.<\/p>\n
Long Beach is, indeed, a dog city. It\u2019s a rare day when you walk down a street in the LBC and don\u2019t meet someone walking a dog or see a riding shotgun in a vehicle. You probably know every name of every dog on your walking route but don\u2019t know their humans\u2019 names.<\/p>\n
Within a paw\u2019s reach are businesses catering to dogs, including a bakery<\/a> and a caf\u00e9<\/a>; boarding hotels; pet supply stores that are sometimes more conveniently located than supermarkets; and veterinary hospitals. The shelter at Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> is one of the most proactive anywhere, especially with options for dogs.<\/p>\n And, of course, dog parks. Long Beach boasts 12 designated dog parks, located in Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. They include Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach<\/a>, a popular space for bathing bowsers. As mentioned in the proposal, Council District 2 wants to create a second dog beach, Junipero Dog Beach<\/a>, on the beachfront area east of the Junipero Beach Sports Court<\/a>. The beach would be modeled after Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach, would take up about four acres of sand, and feature convenient parking and accessibility for humans and their dogs. The project is supported by Tidelands funds and is in the community outreach phase.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally speaking, the establishment of dog parks and other park developments\/amenities can stem from community need, as a directive from the City Council, etc.,\u201d said Jen De Prez, community information officer of the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. \u201cAs is the case with other city projects, community engagement and input play an integral role throughout the development process. Proposed projects are also shared with the Parks and Recreation Commission. Pursuant to the Long Beach Municipal Code, the City Council determines final designation.\u201d<\/p>\n However, all dog parks aren\u2019t created equal.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at District 1, [zip codes] 90802 and 92813 have about 43,000 housing units, many multifamily without yards,\u201d Willmore City Community Association President Ryan Wolfe said at the Feb. 3 meeting. \u201cThat is much higher than any other part of the city. When we look at a place like El Dorado Park, which is probably one of the gold standards in our city for what a dog park should be in terms of scale, that contrasts with 15,000 housing units in that area. You\u2019d assume that those people at least have a yard, space where they can at least exercise the dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n Recreation Dog Park<\/a> and El Dorado Dog Park<\/a>, both in East Long Beach, measure two acres and 1.5 acres respectively, and Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach extends 4.1 acres. By contrast, the Downtown area\u2019s three parks are far smaller. Lincoln Dog Park<\/a> near the big penny measures .13 acres, reduced during the library remodel from the .7 acres it took up when it opened as Downtown Dog Park<\/a>. Lincoln Dog Park can be accessed by walking, but anyone with a car will have to hunt down paid parking.<\/p>\n Parking\u2019s also at a premium for Pike Park Dog Park<\/a> on W. Seaside Way, and at 8,000 square feet, so is space for dogs to run. K9 Corner<\/a> on Ninth and Pacific is just that \u2014 a corner. At a mere .8 acre, a Chihuahua will have barely enough space to turn around, and a tossed Frisbee could wind up on a neighbor\u2019s balcony.<\/p>\n Local residents have plans for a new dog park<\/p>\n Micaela Salatino and Ben Fisher live near Cesar Chavez Park, in a small apartment with a dog they rescued from the street. The dog gets her daily walkies, but access to a good-size park is a challenge. Salatino and Fisher teamed up with other residents to convince Zendejas\u2019 office to officially designate a gated, grassy area of Chavez Park as a dog park.<\/p>\n \u201cWe live in a neighborhood that is parking impacted, and dogs are inside all day,\u201d Salatino. \u201cFortunately, we learned about this part of Chavez Park that\u2019s gated. So, we started using Chavez for the dogs because it was the closest place to have an off-leash dog \u2014 it\u2019s the grassy area on Third and Golden. It became popular when the city redid the library and gave us a tiny space.\u201d<\/p>\n Humans with dogs work around activities and school days. Salatino and Fisher have taken the responsibility of calling Cesar Chavez Elementary School and the park\u2019s community center for the week\u2019s schedule of events and then communicate them through social messaging to other residents, who pass it forward.<\/p>\n Dogs in the area have unsurprisingly led to some confrontations with school personnel and other residents. Gates have been locked to prevent dogs from using the area, and arguments about dog waste and litter continue. Fisher initially contacted the school principal to see if a volunteer-based cleanup initiative could be worked out, but he said that nothing came of it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem with every dog park is that there are a few individuals who don\u2019t pick up the dogs\u2019 poop,\u201d Salatino said. \u201cIt\u2019s not an on-leash, off leash problem \u2014 it\u2019s a people problem. It\u2019s not OK to leave poop everywhere for kids to step in. What some of us do is when we go there, we pick it all up. We pick up trash and other things. Everyone should be picking up after their dog.\u201d<\/p>\n Salatino and Fisher are organizing a core group of people to maintain the dog park, keep it clean, and monitor the behavior of aggressive dogs and their humans.<\/p>\n Motion passes 7-0<\/p>\n Salatino, Fisher and Wolfe were among the residents who spoke during public comment at the Feb. 3 meeting. Fisher cited an Oct. 16 Long Beach Public Works report based on owner requests; dog parks, he said, were always the number one Downtown park request in every survey since 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite this, our options are disappearing,\u201d he said, referring to the reduced size of Lincoln Dog Park, where \u201cyou cannot even underhand a ball.\u201d<\/p>\n Zendejas voiced her agreement with the need for a park in her district and agreed with residents\u2019 points.<\/p>\n \u201cWalking the dogs is fine, but dogs are social creatures who need free play and freedom to run,\u201d she said. \u201cUnfortunately, our city has faced challenges in providing clean-space planning. In District 1 specifically, our neighborhoods need clean spaces for recreation and environmental purposes. This means that for many years, dog parks have been an afterthought in the planning process \u2026 Recent trends point to a growing demand for dog parks.\u201d<\/p>\n Zendejas commended her district\u2019s dog advocates for their continuous, tireless activism to make a dog park a reality.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that the community needs are reflected in citywide planning and that they are considered as a plan for the future of Long Beach,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The councilmembers spoke up in favor of the resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the thing that I\u2019m most excited about with this item is to come up with parameters that work for all districts,\u201d said Kerr, whose district has no dog parks.<\/p>\n The resolution passed 7\u20130, with two councilmembers absent.<\/p>\n Salatino thanked Zendejas for bringing the resolution forward. She said that she hoped that an area of one to five acres will be created for both dogs and their humans who cannot for any reason drive across town for parks of a decent size with room to socialize and be safe.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the council considers this and future recommendations, I urge you to prioritize appropriately sized dog parks, not token spaces. Involve the community in design,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about dogs running off leash: it\u2019s about helping neighborhoods, safer parks, and a more connected Long Beach.\u201d<\/p>\n YOURS DROOLY<\/p>\n Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> (LBACS) is indeed overwhelmed and overcrowded with dogs. Volunteers and staff go over the top with the efforts to make them all comfortable, exercised, socialized and adoptable \u2014 Fido Field Trips<\/a>, daily walks and playtime, wading-pool parties and the Diesel Project<\/a>, a social-media-fueled training program for shelter dogs who need special attention. The Diesel Project is conducted in partnership with big-hearted dog rescue K9 Kismet<\/a>.<\/p>\n The adoptable part is where you come in. If you\u2019re ready for a canine companion, there\u2019s at least one waiting for you at LBACS. Check out the adoptable pets here<\/a>, or better yet, come to the shelter and meet them in person. Shelter hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors). Email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov to do either, or call 562-570-4925.<\/p>\n These three doggies are very ready to go home!<\/p>\n Paisley (ID#A739902) is a really good girl. She\u2019s a German shepherd mix who loves Fido Field Trips and is a great traveler in the car once you get her rear end into it. If the trip includes a stop at In-N-Out for a puppy burger, that\u2019s even better! Last trip she took included a stop at the Zoom Room<\/a>, where she played like a puppy. Afterward, she calmed down and took a nap. Paisley is a calm girl (until a squirrel crosses her path, so hold on to the leash). She\u2019s three and has been at LBACS for 10 months. Let\u2019s bring her home!<\/p>\n Much as LBACS would love to provide luxury bedding for the pets, the dogs and cats need to wait for a foster or an adopter to provide them. Then, of course, there are those Fido Field Trips. Holly (ID#A740671<\/a>) is seen here taking advantage of the rug on a sunlit patio at a volunteer\u2019s house during one of those trips. You see how she\u2019s made herself at home and how natural she looks in a home! Holly is only three and would love to make this type of day one of many in a forever home.<\/p>\n Wetherby (ID#A737020) is an easygoing German shepherd mix who has been at LBACS for a full year. According to a volunteer buddy, he\u2019s \u201calways ready to lend a paw and a smile.\u201d He loves walks and thinks that his leash is a toy. Unfortunately, Wetherby recently developed pancreatitis and is currently on supportive care with a low-fat, highly digestible diet. He needs \u2014 and deserves \u2014 help through foster care, special-needs adoption, or an animal rescue with more resources than the shelter can provide.<\/p>\n TAIL-WAGGING AND NOSE-BOOPING EVENTS<\/p>\n 21st Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest<\/p>\n There\u2019s gonna be dogs as far as the eye can see at Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach, when dogs of all breeds and mixes thereof \u2014 bulldogs, too, of course \u2014 trot and prance and run up to compete in a dog\u2019s dozen\u2019 worth of contests! The Beautiful Bulldog Contest has been billed as one of the largest gatherings of English bulldogs in the world, but every dog is welcome! Pups will parade down the red carpet while all the Miss and Mrs. Long Beaches judge them. Register here<\/a> to enter your best bud in contests like Best Small Dog, Best Large Dog, Best Senior Dog, Best Adopted\/Rescued Dog (my favorite), and, of course, Best Bulldog and Best Frenchie. A Best in Show category will include a huge prize for the judges\u2019 choice. Funds raised will benefit nonprofits. Community Action Team<\/a> and Haute Dogs<\/a> as well as animal-welfare causes.<\/p>\n The Beautiful Bulldog Contest and the other competitions take place Sunday, Feb. 15, 9 a. m.\u2013noon, at the concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave., Long Beach, near at Rosie’s Dog Beach. $10 online or $20 at the event; free to spectate.<\/p>\n Join Long Beach Animal Care Services\u2019<\/a> great volunteer team!<\/p>\n Animal shelters and rescues are typically understaffed and underfunded. They rely on volunteers who love animals and want the best outcome for them to walk dogs, change litter boxes, transport them for medical care, help with paperwork and do any other task that they need done. If that sounds like a good way to spend your spare time, access this link<\/a>, also at the end of the article. It lists shelters and rescues as well as resources where your help will be welcome!<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go bowling with Helen Sanders CatPAWS!<\/p>\n When your cat sits up straight, their little head pointing upward, do you think of bowling pins? When they knock the cup that holds your pens to the floor, do you suddenly yell \u201cStrike!\u201d? If you do, you\u2019ll love this event! Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a> 13th Annual Bowling Fundraiser will give you a great way to focus and vent your energy and support this nonprofit rescue at the same time. Shoes and a snack are included! Hate bowling? Come anyway and cheer your team on! Bid on silent auction items, and win a prize for your bowling skill or lack of same. Funds will support CatPAWS\u2019 spay\/neuter programs for community cats and owned cats and will pay the medical bills for the rescued cats, which will turn them into the adorable adoptables you can see on their Adoptions page and in person at the Seal Beach PetSmart<\/a>. Purchase tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n CatPAWS\u2019 13th Annual Bowling Fundraiser takes place Saturday, March 21, 3 p.m.\u20136 p.m. at Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. Ticket prices $45 for bowlers, $25 for non-bowlers. Snack is included in both tickets.<\/p>\n![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Junipero-Avenue-beach-rendering.jpg\")
Aerial rendering of the proposed Junipero Dog Beach. Rendering courtesy of the City of Long Beach Department of Public Works.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Tiny-Pike-dog-park.JPEG\")
The Pike Dog Park downtown gives dogs about as much room to run as the studio unit they live in with their people. Photo by Kate Karp<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Paisley.jpeg\")
Paisley<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Holly.jpg\")
Holly<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wetherby.jpg\")
Weatherby<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Feb-12.gif\")
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