To the Dogs - Literally

Little Neck residents and their canine companions in search of the occasional frolic in the great outdoors got a new option Friday.

A dog run in Little Bay Park officially opened earlier today in a ceremony bringing together city Parks Department officials, area lawmakers and specialty dog treat maker K-9 Caterers of Glendale.

"Dog runs are a great place to meet your neighbors and for your canines to make friends," said Parks commissioner Adrian Benepe, singling out state Senator-elect Tony Avella for securing $500,000 in city funds to open the canine area as a councilmember.

The recently-constructed canine area, complete with a four-foot high perimeter chain-link fence, water fountains and stone screen surface, replaced a temporary dog run instituted as part of a 2006 pilot program, according to the Parks Department.

In attendance at Friday's event was Avella, former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman and Councilman Daniel Halloran, R-Whitesone, who brought along his Great Dane puppy, Esme, to test out the dog run.

Esme, one of two Great Danes owned by the councilmember, gave the facilities "two paws up," according to Halloran's office.

Outside  with her terrier-mix, Reinhart, Denise Johnson called the new dog run a welcome addition to the somewhat-limited number of public spaces solely dedicated to canines in Queens.

"It sounds like a place both of us will get a kick out of," Johnson said.

With Friday's opening at Little Bay, there are now 27 dog runs in Queens, with over 100 citywide, according to the Parks Department.