Doggie days, in the park

The dog days of summer are here, and we’re sharing some of the off-leash dog parks in the Midlands and a few ways to keep your pup cool in our famously hot heat.

What classifies as a dog park? They’re typically fenced-in areas – often located inside existing public parks – where dogs run freely off-leash. Some have cost + rules associated with them, and others are free rein.

Doggie Park | 127 Humane Ln. | $36/year | Contact Tina Heckman at 803-783-8193 for more membership information.

Emily Douglass Dog Park | 2500 Wheat St. | Free | We hear you may need to be prepared to give your pup a bath after visiting this dog park.

Lexington Paw Park | 989 Hendrix St., Lexington | $31/year for Town of Lexington residents + $51/year for nonresidents | Pups must be older than four months, up-to-date on all shots, spayed/neutered + owners must be 18 or older.

NoMa Bark Park | 1250 Parkside Dr. | $30/year | All pups must be spayed/neutered and up-to-date on all vaccines.

Page Ellington Dog Park, BullStreet District | The 1.75 acre dog park is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes and is fenced in.

Saluda Shoals Barking Lot Dog Park | 5605 Bush River Rd. | $40/year + parking fees | Pups must be spayed/neutered and be up-to-date on all shots.

Sesquicentennial State Park | 9564 Two Notch Rd. | $25/year or $4/day + state park admission | Owners must provide vaccination records + proof of spay/neuter, rabies, parvo + kennel cough.

Other cool, dog-friendly parks to take your four-legged friends include Riverfront Park, Finlay Park, West Columbia Riverwalk, Granby Park, Doko Meadows Park, Irmo Community Park, and Gibson Pond Park. All of these are free, public places – but they do require you to keep your dog leashed.

Also, don’t forget to clean up after your pup + trash the poop when using these public spaces so everyone can enjoy a clean, safe environment.

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Stay cool

Last month we asked you to share some tips on how you keep your pup cool on those hot Soda City days.

A cooling vest. It's a light material that holds water. — Ginger B.

We take our dogs to the park later in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat. — Mike M.

Not cool, but keep dogs at home and not walking around with you on hot pavement. It is cruel to have a dog on a leash in a place where it can’t get off the pavement so as not to burn its paws. — LaBruce A.

—Mark L.