Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › Off Leash Dogs
- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by Living.in.the.Wild.West.
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February 5, 2016 at 8:57 am #832799
Living.in.the.Wild.WestParticipantEver see off-leash dogs where they shouldn’t be? If you’ve been to ANY park in West Seattle, chances are you have. Ever called to report it? Probably not, and if you have, you’ve probably heard the same frustrating response I get. You have to have all the owner’s information, including name, address, license plate number, etc. THEN, you have to give all the same information about yourself. If you inquire why, they say its to get a better understanding of where they are needed most, well, guess what…I DON’T LIVE AT THE PARK! They have also told me that they have two offices to cover over 450 parks within the city; knowing this, what’s the point in even calling them? With that little staffing, there’s NO WAY they will get to your location in time to actually site the owner. But don’t try calling police non-emergency, as they WILL NOT help you if it’s during normal operating hours for the Animal Shelter. On the off chance an ACTUAL SPD officer shows up, chances are they won’t issue a citation even if the owner admits to having their dog off leash, as long as the owner says they won’t do it again(this I have experienced first hand). So what exactly does the animal shelter do with those officers? And why don’t Parks Dept. employees; who partner with the Animal Shelter; help out and enforce ordinances(safely of course)that are being broken in their parks? Their are WAY more Parks employees out in the community than Animal Shelter employees. I also wonder just how many times people are ACTUALLY given citations vs. a verbal warning? If no one is ever penalized for violating the leash law, then why would anyone feel the need to follow it?
February 13, 2016 at 8:28 pm #833873
JeannieParticipantPlease DO call Animal Control. You may not have the license-plate number of the inconsiderate idiots who let their dogs run loose, but you should still be the “squeaky wheel.” Speak up and speak out!
I spoke with the Animal Control officer about a year ago; they do issue citations. In the case of, say, an elderly lady walking her pugoodlezer, they may just issue a verbal warning if she didn’t know any better. Of course, they’re understaffed, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from calling. I still think we need larger, more prominent, and sterner signs informing the purposefully clueless.February 14, 2016 at 2:12 pm #833937
JKBParticipantSigns? The most actively hostile reaction I’ve gotten from a dog owner was when I called him on riding his bike with the dog in tow, in the wading pool at Hiawatha. Next to the sign in big letters: “DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED”.
February 23, 2016 at 1:04 pm #834881
Living.in.the.Wild.WestParticipantSigns don’t do anything to stop people from letting their dogs off-leash. For some reason, the people of West Seattle feel like they are above this law. Why would an owner NOT put their dog on a leash when asked by another patron of the park? It is the law, but it seems as though, at least from my experience, that when asked/informed about leash laws, owners of off-leash dogs only get defensive. Where does this higher than the law attitude come from? If you want your dog to have the freedom to roam free, then take them to an ACTUAL off-leash park, or buy a house with a fenced in yard, public parks are just that, FOR THE PUBLIC, and that does not include your off-leash dog chasing squirrels and/or other dogs. Be a responsible dog owner, and follow the rules. If you do see an off-leash dog, please report it, even if it most likely won’t lead to anything being done, at least there will be a record of your call.
February 24, 2016 at 5:57 am #834943
Living.in.the.Wild.WestParticipantThe city has actually developed a plan to help with this issue. Apparently, they think that ONE two person team, made of one Parks Dept. employee and one Animal Control employee, is going to make a difference. This new team will be out patrolling the city’s parks and citing people with off-leash dogs. Honestly, I think this is just the answer we need! ONE WHOLE TEAM to help patrol the OVER 450 parks in the city? It won’t be long before EVERY dog in the city will be leashed and law abiding! SO EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PLAN! (obvious sarcasm)
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