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It's not just to be mean. The Meadow was closed in 2006 in order to let it recover from heavy use in the prior three decades. Part of that use was too many people walking too many dogs. Now, we love dogs. Dogs are Man's Best Friend. Many of our Board Members own dogs.
But the medow paths had become littered with dog waste and there had been several instances of children being badly frightened by large, but fortunately friendly, dogs that had been let loose to run by their owners.
When the Meadow was reopened to members in September of 2010, the Board had to address whether or not to permit dogs on the property again.
 While issues of liability, waste and damage to the landscape were obvious concerns, The Meadow Preserve is also home to a variety of wildlife habitats and recent research has shown that dog-walking in conservation areas significantly reduces diversity and abundance of wildlife, in some cases up to 35 percent.
We want people to enjoy themselves there but we also want to protect the biodiversity of the Meadow Preserve for activities such as bird watching, nature walks and eco-literacy programs as well as to preserve the wildlife habitats. Therefore, the board of trustees decided to follow the policy of the Nature Conservancy and other organizations that have made similar decisions about their protected preserves.
This was not a decision that was taken lightly - it was a VERY difficult and painful decision to reach. After hours and hours of discussion over several months, our oversight committee reached the conclusion that no scenario other than an outright ban would ensure the protection and enjoyment of the meadow for ALL visitors – including children, non-dog owners, and nature visitors.
Because our founder, Frances Williams, made no mention of dogs specifically, we cannot be certain what she would have wanted. But we have talked with her children, Amy and Philip, and they have told us that their mother would agree with our current direction. We will continue to monitor the property and the views of the community to ensure we are making the right decisions over time.
We hope you respect our decision and will continue to support Connemara as we work to protect and preserve important landscapes throughout North Texas.
Why can't I walk my dog on Conservancy preserves?
We love dogs, but there are many reasons they don't belong in a natural area.
- They harass wildlife.
Even well-behaved dogs can stress wild animals by their very presence.
- They endanger ground-dwelling animals.
Even if there is no direct contact between your dog and ground-dwellers, the scent trails they leave while exploring can lead other predators to holes and nests.
- They don’t observe the Leave No Trace Ethic.
Dog droppings carry microbes that can foul local water sources and leave excess nutrients in the soil, altering native plant communities.
- A romp in the wild can lead to hours of work for you.
Ticks, burrs, and prickly seeds collect in dogs’ fur and ears and if not promptly removed can lead to illness and injury.
- They may frighten human visitors.
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