Pet owners say issues persist at Suffolk dog park

Dog owners say a dog park in East Patchogue is putting pets and people in danger, and they say their complaints to the county have gone unanswered.
Mud Creek County Park is an off-leash Suffolk County dog park, with beach and bay access. It uses its natural landscape with some fencing as a border.
"The sign says it's fenced in, but it's confusing because it's not all fenced in," explains Patchogue resident Kenneth Levin.
News 12 first covered issues at the park back in August. Since then, a fenced-in area has been completed, but there are still large holes that dogs can easily fit through. Gaps leading to a roadway also remain.
Resident Joe Lucas lives near the park. He says he's been asking the county and legislators to fence in the park for more than two years, when he says a neighbor's Yorkie was attacked by a larger dog that got out of the park.
"This is a liability for the county, and they don't seem to be addressing it," Lucas says.
News 12 reached out to the Suffolk County Parks Department. In a statement, it said it continues to "evaluate the need for further improvements," but county representatives didn't take any questions.
The Humane Society of the United States recommends dog parks have a 5- to 6-foot fence. It says there are fewer dog-related problems at dog parks that are fenced in.