Protest storm against dog zone: 200 signatures in just a few days!

Protest storm against dog zone: 200 signatures in just a few days!

An outcry goes through the dog owners of Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. On Monday, August 11, 2025, around 20 committed dog owners gathered in front of the district office to vent their displeasure about the redesign of the dog zone in Forschneritschpark. Within days, over 200 signatures were collected from disgruntled dog owners opposing the changes. The new design was criticized as a “worse improvement”, especially because essential elements such as the water connection were eliminated due to the relocated hydrant and access was made more difficult for people with walking difficulties.

The dog park is an important meeting place for many in the neighborhood. Every day, 40 to 70 dog owners visit the park with their four-legged friends. But the transformation that came about as a result of the necessary compromises of 2018 no longer seems to take the needs of this community into account. “I am disappointed with what has become of our proposals,” says the initiator of the petition, Barbara Eder. Their demands include more greenery, better privacy and new drainage.

Citizens' initiative and petition campaign

The petition started by Eder, which is aimed at the city of Vienna, is intended to draw the city administration's attention to the grievances. By midday on Monday, 243 signatures had already been collected. The initiative has been fighting for a modern redesign for two years, as users of the dog zone report that the situation is worsening. “We know best what we need,” say the dog owners, who feel supported by a concept that has already been presented to the district council and the responsible municipal departments.

The concerns of dog owners are diverse: a lack of accessibility due to the distance makes use almost impossible for people with walking difficulties or strollers. At the same time, there are fears of danger, such as the fountain at the entrance, which attracts people without dogs and could therefore provoke confrontations. Strong risk of slipping and increased risk of injury due to newly drawn edges are further points that are denounced.

Politics has the floor

District leader Dietmar Baurecht (SPÖ) commented on the redesign and explained that technical feasibility represents an obstacle. Nevertheless, he is open to ideas from the dog owner community. Further discussions on accessibility are expected to take place in the near future. “It’s time for the suggestions to be taken seriously,” demands Barbara Eder, while the citizens’ initiative continues to put pressure on those responsible.

The example of the dog zone in Forschneritschpark illustrates the need for citizen participation in local affairs. Such initiatives can be crucial to effectively represent concerns to authorities, whether related to barrier-free access or safe public spaces. The voices of residents should be heard, whether it is about the design of parks or other municipal projects, such as the expansion of bicycle paths or accessibility in public transport situations.

It remains to be seen whether the voice of dog owners will be heard. But with the support of the citizens' initiative, the chances are certainly not bad. The dog owners in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus are convinced of this and are doing everything they can to enforce their demands.

For more information about the petition and how you can support, please visit the Open Petition page and find out more about Action Mensch.