Off leash dogs at public playgrounds – anyone tackled this problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure the dogs are even allowed on school property? In Fairfax, no dogs are permitted on school grounds.

Same for Arlington.

I own two dogs but I always give people who let their dogs run loose on school property the what-for. I'm very loud and bold about it. Polite at first, but if I don't get immediate -- and I mean IMMEDIATE -- acquiescence, I'm dialing the nonemergency number for the police.

You're a peach.

Really? What am I supposed to do, live and let live? I do with a lot of things, but not dogs running lose on school property. Most of the time people who are that irresponsible also don't clean up after their dog. Also, they tend to think that rules don't apply to them. So, I make certain they learn that the rules do, in fact, apply to them.

I've only had to do this twice, thankfully. Most people have wised up. In both cases, the police arrived. Instructed the offender the animal control warden was on its way. One person backtalked and got threatened with arrest.

What are you supposed to do? Oh, I don't know...find another personal crusade? Realize the police have actual crime to fight? And can I ask, what would be the worst thing about dogs running lose on school property? Is it a sign of End Times?

I sincerely hope that you or your children gets mauled by an off-leash dog. I really do.

Because THAT will solve this problem!

[Anonymous]

I'm a (small) dog owner - pooch is better behaved and calmer off leash, loves children and they love her. But when I see kids in any off-leash situation, she gets reeled in, right quick. And that is not because she's some wildabeast that eats kids. It's because not all kids are socialized with respect to dog interaction and can behave in ways that set dogs off. Not on purpose, they just don't know any better.

There's plenty of room on the planet for off leash dogs and off leash kids. We don't need to mix 'em up, nor do we need to be sanctimonious about it.

And to the PPs who would call the cops on a poodle, there's a children's story about "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One compromise is to establish specific hours for off-leash dog use. This is also a safety issue and I wouldn't hesitate to call the police.

Dog-owner here. I'm also pretty verbal in saying to others "You know, there's an off-leash dog park 1/2mi up the road. Dogs need to be leashed here. Thanks."
If they want to get belligerent, they can, but sometimes people violate the rules since they don't expect to be called on them.

We had a neighbor who used to NEVER leash her dog. He'd run up to us barking and growling but then stop 5 feet away. My leashed dogs were generally well behaved but would go nuts. Last time this happened I was four months pregnant. I went OFF on this woman, telling her in front of others that she had a documented track record of ignoring the law and ignoring the complaints. That I was pregnant and had harm been done I would have had her arrested and charged. I then proceeded to pull out my phone and call animal control, providing them the home address of this vicious animal and irresponsible owner.

She had always been rude before when people told her to leash her dog, but this time was mortified and apologetic. We've never seen her dog outside her yard again and it's now been almost 4yrs. People just think the rules don't apply to them.

It is so great that you yelled at her. Neighbors should yell at people who do things they don't like. They should scream at them until the other person dies in sadness and shame. That's what my neighbors do.

I agree it was extreme. Unfortunately, years of polite requests by neighbors had made no difference. Being pregnant and potentially in the middle of a dogfight pushed me over the edge. I honestly don't feel bad about it. Her dog was aggressive, she refused to control him, and it's only by the grace of God that no one had ever been injured. I don't understand people who think the rules don't apply to them. This isn't like giong 60mph in a 55 zone where the potential for additional harm was minimal. Her dog was not under voice control, and would aggressively charge and growl, bark and snap at other dogs.

[Anonymous]

Off leash dogs and off leash kids? Really?

I am in the call the cops crowd when someone is breaking the law. That's not crying wolf, that's the civilized response when one person sees another breaking the law. If it's not an emergency, the police generally have non-emergency numbers.

[Anonymous]

I find that people who rush to call the cops when there isn't danger involved (i.e. not a growling dog, but just someone with their dog off-leash) to be bad neighbors.

The first step -- again, if there is no immediate danger -- should be to talk to the person. That's how you establish a community. Approach the person and say, you know, this isn't an offleash park, you're supposed to have your dog on a leash because kids play here and some of those kids are uncomfortable around dogs.

If you do this *and* the person is unreceptive, then call the county/city. I believe that animal control is actually the division you're supposed to call; not the actual cops.

And if it is a bunch of people doing it, post signs around the park. Or call county/city and ask them to put up signs.

These are the kinds of issues that reasonable people, neighbors, should be able to work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Off leash dogs and off leash kids? Really?

I am in the call the cops crowd when someone is breaking the law. That's not crying wolf, that's the civilized response when one person sees another breaking the law. If it's not an emergency, the police generally have non-emergency numbers.

Do you call the cops when somebody passes you on the highway and you know they are speeding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that people who rush to call the cops when there isn't danger involved (i.e. not a growling dog, but just someone with their dog off-leash) to be bad neighbors.

The first step -- again, if there is no immediate danger -- should be to talk to the person. That's how you establish a community. Approach the person and say, you know, this isn't an offleash park, you're supposed to have your dog on a leash because kids play here and some of those kids are uncomfortable around dogs.

If you do this *and* the person is unreceptive, then call the county/city. I believe that animal control is actually the division you're supposed to call; not the actual cops.

And if it is a bunch of people doing it, post signs around the park. Or call county/city and ask them to put up signs.

These are the kinds of issues that reasonable people, neighbors, should be able to work out.

Totally agree. Unfortunately, when the rule-breakers are the ones who are repeatedly unreasonable, you end up with problems.

Personally I don't see a snarling off-leash dog to not be a danger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the dogs trying to play with the kids or are they chasing to bite?

Does it matter? Neither the kid or parent can tell until it's too late.

+1000 think of it from a 4 year olds perspective.

[Anonymous]

It good that you wished that other mothers' child to have the face mauled off by a dog. It would be better if you were neighbors on a cul-de-sac and you had yelled this in her face while standing on your lawn wearing a stained sweat suit. But still, you told her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that people who rush to call the cops when there isn't danger involved (i.e. not a growling dog, but just someone with their dog off-leash) to be bad neighbors.

The first step -- again, if there is no immediate danger -- should be to talk to the person. That's how you establish a community. Approach the person and say, you know, this isn't an offleash park, you're supposed to have your dog on a leash because kids play here and some of those kids are uncomfortable around dogs.

If you do this *and* the person is unreceptive, then call the county/city. I believe that animal control is actually the division you're supposed to call; not the actual cops.

And if it is a bunch of people doing it, post signs around the park. Or call county/city and ask them to put up signs.

These are the kinds of issues that reasonable people, neighbors, should be able to work out.

In Montgomery County, animal control is part of the police department. It is the police's job to enforce the laws, not mine. If someone is breaking the law, and it may result in a dangerous situation, that is the role of our police force. If there were an annoyance, then I would agree speaking with the responsible party about it would be the neighborly thing to do. In this case, it is not an annoyance, but a purposeful breaking of the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Off leash dogs and off leash kids? Really?

I am in the call the cops crowd when someone is breaking the law. That's not crying wolf, that's the civilized response when one person sees another breaking the law. If it's not an emergency, the police generally have non-emergency numbers.

Do you call the cops when somebody passes you on the highway and you know they are speeding?

If their speeding falls into the category of reckless driving and endangers others on the road, absolutely. No different than anyone else breaking the law and endangering me or my children.

[Anonymous]

Busted - don't call while driving!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One compromise is to establish specific hours for off-leash dog use. This is also a safety issue and I wouldn't hesitate to call the police.

Dog-owner here. I'm also pretty verbal in saying to others "You know, there's an off-leash dog park 1/2mi up the road. Dogs need to be leashed here. Thanks."
If they want to get belligerent, they can, but sometimes people violate the rules since they don't expect to be called on them.

We had a neighbor who used to NEVER leash her dog. He'd run up to us barking and growling but then stop 5 feet away. My leashed dogs were generally well behaved but would go nuts. Last time this happened I was four months pregnant. I went OFF on this woman, telling her in front of others that she had a documented track record of ignoring the law and ignoring the complaints. That I was pregnant and had harm been done I would have had her arrested and charged. I then proceeded to pull out my phone and call animal control, providing them the home address of this vicious animal and irresponsible owner.

She had always been rude before when people told her to leash her dog, but this time was mortified and apologetic. We've never seen her dog outside her yard again and it's now been almost 4yrs. People just think the rules don't apply to them.

Gosh pp. She could be dead inside of that house and her dog has been living off her remains for 4 years--but by god you told her. Life goes on, I suppose. Poor, half-eaten dog woman...

(Snicker)

[Anonymous]

While most are lovely and respectful of the rules, there are always a couple of belligerent, entitled dog owners at Volta Park in Gtown. There is a designated dog area there but inevitably the fence dividing the dog area from the rest of the park comes down, the dogs are off the leash and permitted to run over to unsuspecting little leaguers who are trying to pay attention to a game or a coach. And then baseballs get involved--having a child and a 80 lb dog running for the same baseball is a recipe for a disaster and a lawsuit. Anyway, last season if anyone dared to say anything to one particular dog owner, regardless if you said it politely or pointedly, he would blow up and yell obsenities--it didn't matter to him if there were teams of 6 year olds right there. You could see how the other dog owners were embarrassed by this fool and didn't want to associate with him. Anyway, we are assigned to Volta for most of our games this season again, and this time I'm calling the cops on the abusive douche. And I'm going ot film him too and put it on youtube and FB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that people who rush to call the cops when there isn't danger involved (i.e. not a growling dog, but just someone with their dog off-leash) to be bad neighbors.

The first step -- again, if there is no immediate danger -- should be to talk to the person. That's how you establish a community. Approach the person and say, you know, this isn't an offleash park, you're supposed to have your dog on a leash because kids play here and some of those kids are uncomfortable around dogs.

If you do this *and* the person is unreceptive, then call the county/city. I believe that animal control is actually the division you're supposed to call; not the actual cops.

And if it is a bunch of people doing it, post signs around the park. Or call county/city and ask them to put up signs.

These are the kinds of issues that reasonable people, neighbors, should be able to work out.

I find people who don't think rules apply to them to be bad neighbors. The difference between us is I am right.

I also don't want your off-leash dog taking a dump in the grass where children play. Even if you pick it up, there is residue. It's not sanitary.