Owners Upset After Dog Illnesses, Death Linked to Santa Clara Dog Park

Some dog owners are criticizing Santa Clara’s response to several reports of dogs becoming sick — and one dying — after visiting a local dog park, which has been temporarily closed while officials investigate.

The city closed Nuevo Dog Park, located at Ryder Street and La Rambla Avenue, and started a “thorough environmental assessment” after receiving reports over the past two months, officials said Monday night. The park will remain closed while testing is completed.

“The health and safety of Santa Clara residents, and their four-legged companions, is a top priority,” the city said. “We are taking these concerns seriously.”

Tony Wang, the owner of a Samoyed named Boba who had a seizure following a visit to the park back in July, said he felt the city missed its chance to properly investigate the illnesses.

“[The city] missed the perfect window of opportunity when the first dog had seizures,” Wang told KQED. “I don’t feel confident they will find anything.”

Yuxi Wu, Wang’s girlfriend, said in a GoFundMe raising funds for Boba’s treatment in mid-July that costs were totaling nearly $20,000 following “a severe seizure, which led to a heatstroke causing multiple damages internally.”

Wang said he and other dog owners first had concerns about dogs, including Boba, having bouts of diarrhea after visiting the park in May. Wang said he got in touch with animal control in the city, who reportedly did not find any “health issue,” but instead that the entrance to the park was broken.

“This is not just one or two dogs having diarrhea,” Wang said. “This is almost every dog having diarrhea and symptoms starting in May.”

An unidentified resident also placed a note to other dog owners, warning them to stay away from the dog park “until further notice” and to report symptoms of seizures, diarrhea or vomiting in dogs to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

“We want to alert all dog owners: Multiple dogs have experienced seizures after visiting this park,” the notice placed at the park read. “Let’s keep our pets safe and support each other in getting answers.”

A similar notice, which only identified the park as being located at the intersection of Ryder Street and Central Expressway, was posted about a week ago at a nearby dog daycare, according to residents.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, which provides services to the city, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

For its part, the city of Santa Clara said it doesn’t use harmful pesticides in dog parks.

“We do not use pesticides in any of our dog parks, and all are regularly cleaned with pet- and eco-friendly products. We are taking these concerns seriously,” the city said in the Monday statement.

Officials did not comment on requests for additional information related to the investigation.