We were told it was available to anyone who shows up. Not true. Credit: Mike Force

We were told it was available to anyone who shows up. Not true.

We were told it was available to anyone who shows up. Not true. Mike Force

On a recent hot day, I remembered the secret dog park on Capitol Hill.

I’d heard rumors for months that it was owned and run privately by a rich animal lover in her own vast backyard, available to anyone who shows up. No bad dogs allowed. Someone who’d been there told me it was “a dog paradise.”

I pictured shady meadows, fragrant ponds, troughs full of chilled water being lapped up by Rin Tin Tin, Snoopy, and Bo Obama. I saw my dog doing the one thing city life seldom allows her to do: frolicking.

Sean Nelson has worked at The Stranger on and off since 1996. He is currently Editor-at-Large. His past job titles included: Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, Film Editor, Copy Editor, Web Editor, Slog...