UPDATE re off-leash dogs in Lincoln Park

[Jeannie]

Thought I’d start a separate thread, since the other one (of which I was the OP) was getting awfully long! I just had a chat with a very helpful and knowledgeable Animal Control Officer. Here are the most important takeaways.

1. They are ramping up patrolling the parks for off-leash dogs; they just hired a few more people and are training them.

2. If they see someone with an off-leash dog, in almost all cases they WILL issue a ticket (not a verbal warning). Of course, there will be exceptions when a violator just gets a verbal warning. Example: an 80-year-old with a small dog off-leash. They just want to educate the dog owner. However, in most cases, people with off-leash dogs know full well they are violating the law.

3. They take this matter very seriously, and they have received MANY complaints from concerned citizens.

4. Please call Animal Control to report off-leash dogs. Easy way to remember their number: 206-386-PETS. (206-386-7387) Put the number in your smartphone phonebook. If at all possible, get their vehicle license number or at least a description of the violator. If it’s an emergency, where a person or wildlife is actually being attacked, you can call 911.

5. Think Lincoln Park needs more or better signage so we can literally “point out” to people that they are committing a violation? Even if owners are well are, it can’t hurt to hit the point home. Stop by the Lincoln Park maintenance office on the upper part of the park, northern end, before 3:30 weekdays. The manager there will be happy to hear your comments and recommendations.

6. Animal Control frequently hires new, qualified people. Looking for a steady job with their department? See listings at the City of Seattle website. Candidates must meet certain requirements, such as background checks and, I believe, some experience in a similar capacity. I would imagine this would be quite a rewarding job, helping people and animals co-exist.

And, I think most of us agree, we’re not going to grab someone else’s off-leash dog and haul the dog into Animal Control. But we WILL make the call.

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[herongrrrl]

Thanks for the update, Jeannie! I’m passing this on to some friends who have had similar complaints about off-leash dogs at Alki Playfield, Schmitz Park, and Me-Kwa-Mooks Park.

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[wakeflood]

And since you’ll have your smartphone with you, don’t hesitate to take a quick pic or two of the offender and their pet. Pictures speak a 1000 words…

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[jon]

… and post ’em here

http://alkiwallofshame.blogspot.com/

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[Jeannie]

Good point about the photos…and the Wall of Shame!

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[Jeannie]

And when you call Animal Control, you can press Option 7 to report a violation – which I did this afternoon around 5 PM. An “athletically built” youngish woman with long red hair was throwing a ball into the water near the north end of Lincoln Park. Her two dogs (yellow and black Labs, I think), would dive into the water to retrieve the ball. A passing bicyclist advised her not to do this, and I told her I was calling Animal Control. She pretended not to hear either of us – gotta love these people. Anyway, I’ll be posted her photo on the Alki Wall of Shame site tonight.

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