Note of 10-31-06: According to Rosemary Lyons, Education Coordinator for Pasco County Animal Services, "The only 'off the leash' dog park in Pasco county as of October, 2006 is the Anclote Gulf Park Dog Park, located at 2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday, FL 34691. The dog park is operated by the Pasco County Parks & Recreation Department (727) 834-3278 or (813) 929-1260."

Editor's Note: FloridaPets.net lists the Anclote Gulf Park Dog Park below.

Also according to Rosemary, "Two more dog parks are expected to open in Pasco County in the future. The Anclote Park is on the west side of the county. The next park will be in central Pasco and the third on the east side of the county.

"There are three parks that allow 'on the leash' dogs: J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey, Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Shady Hills, and Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City. Again, these parks are located west, central and east.

"For the most up to date information about our parks, visit the county web site at www.pascocountyfl.net. Check the Parks and Recreation section for information about parks and dog parks. Check the Animal Services section for detailed information about leash laws, licensing and vaccination information. The telephone numbers for information about the county are 352-521-4274, 727-847-2411, 813-996-7341. Operators will connect you to the department that can answer your questions."

Note of 07-12-07: A reader gives us the following information:

"New Port Richey is in the process of deciding where to build another [dog park] and needs to reconsider how to build a good one. Tarpon Springs, Anderson Park is a good example of a good dog park. We need to write the city to encourage them to build a larger size park."

She said she was going to write to:
Director, Elaine Smith
City of New Port Richey Parks and Recreation Department
6630 Van Buren Street,
New Port Richey, FL 34653

She also suggests reading What Makes a Good Dog Park.

1. Anclote Gulf Park Bark Park

Located at 2305 Baillies Bluff Road in Holiday. This off-leash park is open from dawn to dusk.

Note of 01-04-07: A reader tells us this is a nice park. "It's lacking in shade and seating,"he said, "but tends to attract a very pleasant (and sometimes quite large) crowd, especially on the weekends."

Note of 06-05-06: One of our readers wrote us with comments about this dog park:

"Great Bark Park with trees for shade for the critters and covered benches for the people. We visited Memorial Day and my beagle, Dusty had a blast. There are two pens, one for large dogs and one for small. A really nice educational display at the entrance explaining behavioral dog body language and what each gesture means. This park being on the Gulf, although not viewable from the Bark Park area, has a nice ocean breeze. I applaud Pasco County for a very lovely set up."

Note of 03-27-06: A reader advises us this park is located in Anclote Gulf Park, in southwest Pasco Co. She said the park, not necessarily the dog park, overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and she provided the following directions: from Route 19, go west on Anclote Blvd., then north on Baillies Bluff Road, past Anclote River Park to the Anclote Gulf Park entrance. She also said she has learned that dogs aren't allowed in regular Pasco County parks at all, not even on a leash.

Note of 03-24-06: Thanks to a kind reader who shared information with us about this park. As far as we know, this is the only off-leash dog park in Pasco County.

2. Key Vista Nature Park

Located at 2700 Bailies Bluff Road, not far from the Anclote Gulf Park discussed in # 1 above. This park has over 103 acres. Open dawn to dusk. Offers picnic area, restrooms and nature trails.

06-06-06: Thank you to the kind reader who told us about this dog-friendly park. She made the following comments about the park:

"They are allowed here on a leash and there is a small area of beach for them to play in the water. The park provides doggy doo bags as soon as you enter the trail. My dog loves this place and it has a beautiful lookout tower onto the Gulf of Mexico."

NOTE: We can't visit every area on a regular basis, so if you have information about any dog parks or beaches, or any other animal recreation facilities, in the Holiday/Pasco County area, please contact FloridaPets.net.