Chaos at the Dog Park: Some Simi Residents Say Safety Rules Are a Being Ignored

Too Many Dogs: Why Is This Dog Park Rule Not Being Enforced?

(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — On any given afternoon at Lost Canyon Dog Park in Simi Valley, a rule—printed on a sign—warns visitors: “Four dogs per person maximum.” Yet residents say the rule is more suggestion than regulation. Reports of visitors unloading vans packed with dogs—sometimes 10 to 15 huskies at once—have become a regular complaint. Some even claim professional sitters bring in more than 20 dogs at a time.

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, which manages the park, is clear about the limit. Rule 12 of the district’s posted regulations states: “Four dogs per dog owner is the maximum allowed inside the Dog Park.” The rule exists to make sure every handler can safely manage their animals. But frequent visitors say enforcement is rare to nonexistent.

Concerns go beyond the number of dogs. The rules also restrict small children: “No toddlers or small children 6 years and younger are allowed in the Dog Park. Children under 12 are not allowed without adult supervision.” Still, parkgoers report seeing toddlers in strollers and young children running among large, energetic dogs. “It’s not about being unfriendly,” one visitor said. “It’s about common sense and safety.”

Other regulations address many of the same issues residents are raising. Rule 15 states: “No commercial use of the Dog Park is allowed, including dog training classes, solicitations and/or advertisements.” That restriction would appear to cover dog sitters or walkers bringing in large packs at once, a practice locals say is becoming more common.

Despite these rules, many dog owners say enforcement relies almost entirely on self-policing. One resident described calling the Parks and Recreation Department to report the issue. She was told about the four-dog rule, then transferred to the ranger division—where she left a message. Weeks later, she said she was still waiting for a call back.

Not all visitors agree there’s a problem. Some insist they have never seen more than a handful of dogs per person, and they argue the park is large enough to handle busy afternoons. Others say the majority of users are respectful and watch their dogs closely.

Lost Canyon Dog Park has been a fixture in Simi Valley since 2003. At the time of its opening, officials acknowledged that enforcement would rely largely on visitors following the posted rules, with occasional ranger visits. Two decades later, some residents are questioning whether that model still works in a city of this size.

For now, the signs remain posted, and residents are encourage to respect each other and follow the rules.

As one owner puts it, “A little courtesy and common sense can go a long way.”