Choose Charleston

We just returned from a new adventure, and it was awesome.

I’m afraid our dog, Noah, doesn’t have much of a social life. The only time he ever gets to meet other dogs is when we take a trip and he stays at the kennel. That’s really a shame, because he’s a very social animal and believes that everyone should love him.

Recently, we discovered a new park in Charleston, strictly for our four legged friends. Designed by the Charleston Parks Department, Ackerman Dog Park is a joyful place to be. Dog owners can socialize while their pets run around off-leash. We finally got off our lazy behinds and took Noah to the park. It was one of the best decisions we’ve made in a long time.

We were a little nervous at first, because Noah is a big dog and so friendly that he sometimes scares little dogs, as well as some humans. I was very pleasantly surprised when he behaved like a gentleman… most of the time. There were a couple of minor incidents when I had to direct him away from another dog he was showing too much interest in, so to speak. However, overall, it was a great experience.

Now, I’m inspired.

Ackerman Dog Park is West Ashley, on Sycamore Avenue, behind Ryan’s Steakhouse.

There are other off-leash parks in the area, and I plan to see how Noah handles these as well.

Downtown Charleston is the home of Hampton Park, which has a fairly new off-leash dog park. It is located on the corner of Rutledge and Grove.

Also, while most of the Charleston County Parks are pet-friendly, James Island County Park features the first official off-leash area. It is located behind the overflow parking area and adjacent to the lake. CCPRC says there are plans in the works to expand this offering to some of the other county park facilities.