News Release

Keep Your Furry Friends Safe: Leashing Dogs at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

NPS

News Release Date: June 16, 2025

Contact: Ann Honious, Superintendent, 678.538.1200

SANDY SPRINGS, GA – – Dogs are welcome on the trails at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), but pet owners must follow the basic rules to ensure the safety of their pets, other visitors, and the park itself. One of the key requirements is that all dogs must be on a 6-foot leash.

CRNRA sees over 3 million visitors a year, making the trails busy with people and pets. With all the new and exciting scents and sights for a dog to explore, a visit to the park for a dog can be overwhelming. Even a well-behaved and trained pet can behave unpredictably in such an environment.

Leashing your dog is a rule that is an important safety measure to protect your pet, other park visitors, and the flora and fauna of the park itself. Several past incidents in the park involving unleashed pets have caused damage and created issues for park visitors and staff alike. Incidents that highlight the importance of leashing include:

• Damage caused to rare and sensitive plants by unleashed dogs running off trails.

• CRNRA staff being bitten by unleashed dogs, with one ranger bitten three times.

• Park volunteers facing confrontations with aggressive dogs, prompting them to carry protective items.

• An unleashed dog attacking a baby beaver, which had to be euthanized due to its injuries.

• An unleashed dog jumping on a visitor, resulting in a broken wrist.

Leashing your pet also protects them from potential dangers such as venomous snakes, coyotes, poisonous plants, and unsafe water. As a pet owner, you are responsible for your dog’s behavior and safety while in the park.

To promote a safe and enjoyable experience for pets and their owners, CRNRA offers the B.A.R.K. Ranger program. This initiative educates pet owners on best practices for visiting the park with their furry friends, including the importance of leash requirements. The program is available daily at the Island Ford Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants earn a certificate and have their dogs sworn in as official B.A.R.K. Rangers.