Dogs frolic in Yuba City park

The policy is "poop it forward."

Like "pay it forward," but focused on furry friends, visitors to Off the Leash dog park in Yuba City fulfill a canine karmic duty by picking up what someone else's pooch may have left behind. Dog owners participate not just to keep the park clean, but in appreciation of a local place for their pets to run free and socialize, said president Chris Parent.

The park has been officially open for a little more than a year and now attracts more than 50 dogs a day to play within its chainlink boundaries.

Parent, who brings his 9-year-old German shepherd, says interest continues to grow.

"It amazes me that people who still have not been aware we exist all of a sudden find us," he said. "We get new people all the time."

Yuba City residents Ryan Prasad and Heather Black prefer the park on cool evenings or Sunday mornings, when packs of dogs charge around in unison, jumping, wrestling and playfully nipping at one another.

"That's when they have the most fun, when we leave them alone and let them be dogs," Prasad said.

The couple brings their pitbull-dalmation mix, Buster, and mutt, Riley, a few times a week to expend energy.

"Riley likes the people, Buster likes to run," Prasad said. "Buster will run his heart out."

The park draws out dogs' enthusiasm and inner puppyhood like a magnet.

Yuba City resident Rich Lawson has to set a timer for his 7-year-old border colllie-Queensland heeler mix, Bailey, otherwise the dog will run until he can barley walk.

Watching Bailey race around the park on Saturday, Lawson said he knew his pet was having fun.

"His tail's up, waggin,'" he said. "He's real social with everyone."

The dogs race around trees and through wood chips, kicking up dust. Occasionally they'll pause to slurp out of water buckets before bounding off again to sniff a greeting, pounce on an unsuspecting canine or track each other around like a game of follow the leader.

Off the Leash is just a few blocks from Cory Collins' home, and it's become both a blessing and a curse for their family's new dog, Max.

"We don't go for walks because he thinks he's going to the dog park," Collins said, laughing.

Instead, the teenager scoops up the pooch and carries him down the street to romp and sniff with dozens of other dogs. Collins thinks the park is a great asset for dogs and their humans and might adopt it for his Eagle Scout project.

"I just like dogs," he said.

Entirely dependent on donations, fundraising and volunteers, Off the Leash, like many nonprofits, has taken a hit during the economic downturn, Parent said.

"Money is tighter for people and companies, and people are watching their pennies a little tighter," he said. "But people still appreciate the park and are willing to do what they can, if not in money, in labor."

Pace Supply and Fletcher's Plumbing & Contracting recently donated all the materials and labor to increase water sources in the park from one spot to eight. The plumbing improvements will also create other opportunities, such as the agility course Parent hopes to install next spring.

The next goal is to get a small tractor-mounted mower to keep the grass and weeds down, Parent said.

Off the Leash has joined forces with the Regional Arts Council for a few fundraisers. A huge garage sale fundraiser will be held Sept. 18 at Civic Center Park.