In an attempt to reduce the number of off-leash dog incidents, the Napa Police Department is taking steps to inform city park users on the dog leash ordinance.
NPD Capt. Jeff Troendly said the new initiative was triggered by a flurry of phone calls and emails from residents reporting various issues with off-leash dogs, he said.
"Dogs must be on leash in all public areas, except in those areas identified by city ordinance," Troendly said Monday.
For a poster summary of the ordinance, click on the attached PDF.
Troendly said police volunteers will start this week providing information on the city's off-leash ordinance to people with dogs using the city recreational areas. The plan is to continue the educational efforts for the new few weeks.
"This information has been developed by the Napa Parks and Recreation Department and identifies the applicable Municipal Code sections as well as contact information for anyone wishing more details," Troendly aid.
"Our goal is to gain compliance from dog owners and to make the use of all recreational areas a positive experience for all," he added.
"Violations of the applicable Municipal Code section may lead to the person in control of the dog receiving a citation," Troendly added.
Below is the ordinance related to dogs on leash.
6.04.170 When dogs to be leashed.
A. Any person owning or possessing a dog must keep the dog on a leash not exceeding six feet in length. The leash must be of sufficient strength to hold the dog, and the leash must be held by a person physically able to control the dog.
B. Exceptions. A dog may be unleashed under any of the following circumstances:
1. When the dog is on enclosed property with the consent of the owner, lessee, or other person with legal control of the property; or
2. When the dog is assisting a peace officer who is engaged in law enforcement duties; or
3. When the dog is a service animal, guide dog or Seeing-Eye dog used by a visually or mobility-impaired individual; or
4. When the dog is assisting a duly authorized person in an official search and rescue operation; or
5. When the dog is participating in law enforcement training as authorized by the Chief of Police; or
6. When the dog is in a designated off-leash area as designated by the City Council pursuant to resolution authorized by Section 12.36.190(A); or when the dog and the dog owner are in compliance with a park use permit issued by the Community Resources Director for training, exhibition, or competition, and the permit is displayed, on request of any city employee, establishing the dog’s compliance with the permit.
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It seems that dog owners are quite comfortable making the decision that the laws enacted for the benefit of the general community do not apply to THEIR dog. If fines and enforcement efforts were increased, compliance would the norm. Unfortunately, our local law enforcement community finds it much easier and more profitable to issue a $500 citation to an inadvertent red light violator than to chase down an offending dog owner to issue a paltry $25(?) ticket for an unleashed dog.
But once I was coming around a corner (the grass was tall) and a big Rot runs up to me, and stops a fews feet away and stares at me. It startled the heck out of me. I didn't know it's intentions and I should be put in that position. The owner appears a few seconds later (30 something aged women in nice exercise clothes." I blurted out "where's your leash. " She starts approaching me screaming profanity telling me to get a life, etc. and acting like crazy person. I figure there can be no good outcome and anything else I say would only escalate it so I turned around and left but she continued to scream at me as I was leaving. She acted like she was above the rules, how dare I say anything about her "baby" and of course she can go without leash wherever she wants. I like dogs but I don't enjoy being approached, sniffed or having to decided quickly if an unleashed dog that approaches me is aggressive or not. That's why I stay on the leashed side. I know this won't happen but I wish other dog owners at Alston park would use peer pressure to help keep other dog owners who think their dogs can run anywhere unleashed in check. There's enough room for all of us.
It's not like the violators aren't the ones in control of their animals - and it would solve the problem, wouldn't it?