Many people in the Klang Valley own pets, be it a dog, cat or other furry friend. Dogs, especially, need to be regularly exercised and brought out for walks, and that is where dog-friendly parks come into play. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of dog-friendly parks, even within the Klang Valley, so we’ve compiled a list of places where it’s okay to bring your furkid our for some fun activities, and the chance to mingle with other dog-lovers.

#1 – Bandar Utama Central Park
Probably the most well-known dog-friendly park in Malaysia, Bandar Utama‘s Central Park is popular with dog-owners. It is Malaysia’s first officially dog-friendly park, and many people bring their furry friends here on weekends for fun activities, and to socialize with other pet-lovers. The Malaysian Kennel Association (MKA) has dog obedience training sessions at the park on Sunday mornings.

Bandar Utama Central Park is one of the dog-friendly parks in the city. -By SAM CHEONG/The Star

Bandar Utama Central Park is one of the dog-friendly parks in the city. (SAM CHEONG/The Star)

#2 – Central Park @ Desa ParkCity
A private park that is open to the public, the Central Park in Desa Parkcity is another popular canine-friendly park that provides dog waste disposal bags to encourage visitors to clean up after their furry friends. Its well-kept lawns, beautiful lake and park benches make it a great place to bring your family and dogs for a picnic, or to merely lie on the grass and wind down with a good book.

Dog-owners bringing their pets out for a walk at Desa ParkCity’s Central Park. (Photo: covertoperations78.blogspot.com)

#3 – Broga Hill, Semenyih
For the more adventurous type of dog-owner, Broga Hill in Semenyih is also a good spot to bring your pooch. Some dog-owners bring their pets along when going hiking up the hill, starting their hikes as early as 5.30 a.m. in order to catch the magnificent sunrise view. A word of warning: the climb up the hill is fairly steep, so make sure your dog is fit (as are you) and well-trained to obey instructions, or you may have to carry your furry friend up to the top of the hill.

(Edit on 24 April 2016: A reader informed us that dogs – pets in general – are no longer allowed at Broga Hill; the parking area staff at Broga Hill did not allow him to bring his dog along on a hike there.)

Stopping for a rest while hiking up Broga Hill with two Huskies in tow. (Sam Cheong/THE STAR)

#4 – Pets Pavillion @ Setia Eco Park, Shah Alam
One of the newest parks to join the pet-friendly crowd is the Pets Pavilion at Setia Eco Park in Shah Alam. The 3.15-acre pet friendly garden comes complete with an obstacle run, play pond and bathing area created especially for furkids Other interesting features include the Eucalyptus Walk, putting green, reflexology trail and jogging tracks. However, dog-owners have to register and pay a small fee to enter the Wi-Fi enabled park.

Pets Pavillion at Setia Eco Park (Photo: SP Setia)

#5 – (Some) Public parks and playgrounds
Some parks and playgrounds have notices that state pets are not allowed, but there are also small public parks and playgrounds within residential areas that do not enforce such a rule. Therefore, unless it is explicitly stated that no dogs/pets are allowed, residents of the surrounding areas should always be mindful when taking their dogs out for a walk, by walking their dogs on a leash, not letting their dogs loose and disturbing other residents, and carrying a bag to pick up their pet’s droppings. It is also common decency to avoid bringing your dog to a park that has mostly Malay visitors, with respect to their beliefs. Being a responsible dog-owner means being attentive to other people’s needs as well as your pet’s.