Sanford family seeks answers after dog attack at Paw Park

A Sanford family is demanding answers after a dog attack at Paw Park left Rocky, a 91-year-old woman’s rescue dog, severely injured and, the family says, emotionally traumatized. Their push goes beyond one attack: they want the City of Sanford to add cameras, tighten oversight and do more to keep the off-leash park from becoming a repeat problem.

Police data shows Sanford officers responded to Paw Park 30 times during the 2025-2026 period, a figure the family is using to argue the park’s problems are not isolated. The family is also asking the public to help identify the dogs and owners involved, signaling that the case remains active and that community tips could still matter.

Paw Park sits at 427 French Avenue in Sanford and is one of the city’s most visible pet amenities. The city describes it as an off-leash park with lighted water fountains, dog fountains, a dog wash, and separate small- and large-dog play areas with agility features. The city also says users enter at their own risk, aggressive dogs are not allowed and small dogs must use the small-dog area.

Those written rules are now colliding with a sharper question: whether a public dog park can be safe without stronger monitoring and enforcement. The family’s call for cameras reflects a broader concern that policies on paper may not be enough if owners bring aggressive dogs into a shared space and there is little to document what happened when conflict breaks out.

The attack is also unfolding against a recent history of other safety concerns at the park. In 2024, Sanford police responded to five separate incidents involving dogs and their owners at Paw Park. Local dog owner and business owner Liliana Granger was among those pushing for cameras then, showing that pressure for added security did not begin with Rocky’s injuries.

City operations at Paw Park have also faced disruption this spring. In early April, the city temporarily closed the park after a heavy infestation of tussock moth caterpillars, then reopened it on April 3, 2026, saying the park was safe for dogs to use again. That closure underscored how closely the city tracks hazards at the site, even as residents question whether behavioral threats are getting the same attention.

For Sanford officials, Paw Park is now more than a neighborhood amenity. It has become a test of whether clear rules, visible enforcement and incident reporting are enough to protect dogs and owners at a public off-leash park, or whether the city needs to treat repeated calls for help as evidence of a larger oversight failure. Anyone with information can contact Sanford Parks & Recreation at 407-688-5000 ext. 5423.