Article Contributed on: 8/19/2009 5:39:56 PM
Fines might go up for dogs off leash; enforcement is the goal
On Monday, Denver residents will get a chance to chime in on the proposed off-leash dog fines that are planned to increase Sept. 1.
Among other things, the Denver Board of Environmental Health will vote on the fines after hearing public comments.
The city's environmental health agency is recommending to increase fines on second offenses from $105 to $150 and on the third offense and beyond above a $300 fine is recommended.
Currently, fines for third offenses and beyond is up to the discretion of the court, but $300 is presumably more severe, said Meghan Hughes, communications director for the department of environmental health.
"The goal is to encourage compliance," Hughes said of increasing fees.
Dogs off their leash tops the list of complaints heard by environmental health, Hughes said. Cheesman Park typically tops the list of where the most complaints are reported, said Doug Kelley, director of Denver's animal care and control operations.
At Cheesman, some neighbors meet up after work - known unofficially as Doggy Yappy Hour - and let their dogs run off leash, which is against the law at the park.
Neighborhood dog owners say off-leash dog parks are too far away.
Owners say they police each other when dogs are aggressive and Cheesman is a friendly place for their dogs to play.
"There's prostitution in the park, so I think there are more pressing issues than letting dogs off their leash," said Billy Martin, who lives in the Cheesman neighborhood and lets his dogs run off leash at the park.
Martin and other dog owners would prefer to pay for off-leash dog tags or would like to see off-leash hours at certain parks.
Denver Parks and Recreation is currently addressing these concerns with its Dog Park Master Plan, a first draft of which is expected to be completed this fall, said Jill McGranahan, Denver Parks and Recreation spokeswoman.
Some Cheesman residents, however, aren't happy about dogs roaming off leash. According to a poll conducted by neighborhood group Neighbors and Friends For Cheesman Park, 72 residents want increased fines, while two people were against the fines.
"It's not an anti-dog issue. It's an irresponsible owner problem," said Jay Rust, Cheesman's neighborhood association president.
He said there have been problems with dogs tearing up grass, causing sanitation issues and there is a higher chance of dog attacks and dogs running into the street.
He said higher fines won't help if enforcement isn't ramped up.
Denver's Animal Care and Control is understaffed, Kelley said, but he said bike patrol, which launched in the spring, has helped make enforcement more visible.
According to Animal Care and Control, 900 more tickets have been issued during the same time period in 2009 compared to 2008.
The public hearing is at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave. If residents intend to speak, notify beh@denvergov.org and/or submit comments to beh@denvergov.org by Friday.
For more information, go to www.denvergov.org/deh.