Some Leash and Some Don't: Dog Leash Laws and Millennium Park
Park visitors, city officials offer insight. But it is required to leash your dog at Millennium Park.
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A Nov. 6th incident has rekindled debate in West Roxbury about dog leash laws at Millennium Park.
West Roxbury Patch published a story based on a police report about a woman who contacted authorities distressed, saying that a trainer teaching dog owners "aggressive" techniques had abused her 13-year-old basset hound with a whip.
But witnesses were quick to respond, saying that the trainer from Pawsitive Dog, a Boston-based training service, merely swung a leash in the dog's direction to keep it from interfering in the training session.
A Boston Parks & Recreation employee confirmed that the dog company was at the park without a permit, violating a city ordinance.
The training group participants criticized the basset hound's owner, who allegedly had the dog off-leash and did not respond to requests to leash the dog. The witnesses say the owner then corralled a "mob" of people that "yelled and jeered" at the owners attending the training session.
The event marked a major conflict born of a breaking of the leash laws.
Boston City Councilor At-Large John Connolly, a West Roxbury resident, was surprised to hear of the incident, and was "hesitant" to address it in full.
"I've never received one complaint from West Roxbury," he said. "I've never found [leash laws] to be an issue."
Connolly was also surprised to hear of conflict between dog owners about the issue.
"I represent neighborhoods where there are disputes between owners and non-owners, but not between owners," he said, referring to canines.
Millennium Park often sees dogs bound its paths unleashed. Signs throughout the park demand that dogs are kept on leashes. The Boston Animal Control department's website also states that dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than eight-feet under the rules and regulations section.
Mary Hines, spokesperson for Parks & Recreation, said dogs are required to be on-leash primarily because they can attack, and because some people – especially children – fear them.
Another concern voiced by several park visitors has been the failure of owners to clean up after their dogs relieve themselves.
"We don't want the park overflowing with poop," said Raina Hall-Brown, a school-aged girl who does not own a dog, recently at Millennium Park.
"If people see their dog pooping, they should pick it up," said Una Gillic of West Roxbury.
But Hines says off-leash dogs are part of life these days at Millennium Park.
"People have been enjoying walking their dogs there for years," she said. "Some keep them on leashes. Some don't."
If a dog is off-leash, the owner is subject to a $25 fine. Boston Police or Boston Animal Control officers can enforce the rule, but Hines said it generally takes a phone call from a distressed park visitor to see a ticket handed out. She added Animal Control does its best to explain the rules to owners who have their dogs off-leash before issuing a fine.
Connolly said he hopes dog owners will follow the rules.
"I expect - everyone expects - rules to be followed in any public space," he said.
On one recent day park visitors, however, saw little problem with dogs being kept off-leash.
Gillic, who keeps her dog on a leash, says she's never had an issue with an off-leash dog.
"Usually owners are very good with their dogs," she said.
Gillic said owners should never take their dogs on the fields, where children play. But she said she had no issue with dogs off-leash on the park's lower-level tracks.
Nancy Breslin, of Newton, also keeps her dog leashed. But she, too, takes no issue with off-leash dogs, as long as the dog is prepared for that responsibility.
"As long as the dog listens," she said. "It's fine if the dogs are friendly and if people stay close and know where their dogs are at all times."
Breslin says she keeps her dog, Fenway, on-leash because he exhibits an "unpredictable" nature.
Chris, a Roslindale resident who did not want to give her last name, keeps her dog Lenny off-leash during their daily walks at the park. But she is sure to respect those who may feel otherwise.
"I always put him on a leash if we're approaching someone who's not walking a dog," she says.
One Dedham man, who did not wish to give his name, does not own a dog, said he strongly opposes leash laws for the dog's sake.
"They need to run," he says. "They're dogs. They need their exercise."
Luciann Taibi McPherson
10:08 am on Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I don't currently own a dog, but always have in the past. Still, I don't know what some people have against dogs and animals in general. In California, where I own a vacation home, there is a dog park near every human park. The only criterion is that the dog be socialized and not hostile to other dogs.(That also goes for the humans...) It seems to work just fine and everyone gets exercise and has fun. In New England, however, it is a major conflict-- To leash or not to leash....
Don't we have other more critical issues to debate?? I, myself, would like to know why I have to sweep the sidewalk outside my store five times a day to keep it looking decent? Don't we pay taxes for this service?? Not to mention homelessness and unemployment....Let's get real and stop sweating the small stuff! No wonder people in other parts of the country think we are crazy!
Luci McPherson, Owner, Just As Nice
Jeff Smith
1:46 pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I can understand people's desire for wanting to let their dog run off leash. My dog is too unpredictable around other dogs so I keep him on leash. But if someone asks you to call your dog or leash your dog, then the civil thing to do is call your dog and leash it. If your dog won't come when called, then it has no business being off leash.
There is one other thing people should be aware of. If people don't like how strangers treat their off leash dog, then don't let it run over to strangers. Personally, I don't let my dog approach people without my OK and I don't let other people pet my dog without first asking for permission.
I used to take my dog to off leash parks - I did it when he was too young and it was a disaster. He was attacked when he was around 10 months old by another dog. Ever since then, he will not tolerate another dog getting too close. If a dog gets too close, he will attack. I have been working very hard to get him to be more civil and he's gotten a lot better. But if a strange dog gets too close, he will hit. It happens very quickly and he means business.
I can only walk him on side walks along streets. I don't take him to very many parks and I don't take him hiking. The reason being there are too many people who allow their off leash dog to approach mine and respond to my requests for them to call their dog by saying, "it's OK, he's friendly". Fine - then let your dog run up to mine. But if your dog gets hurt, it's your own fault.
Anna Rubin
1:58 pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Both of my children have been jumped on by unleashed dogs--at Millennium Park, in the Arboretum, at Jamaica Pond, even at a beach in New Jersey. Mostly these have been "overly-friendly" dogs, according to their owners, who are always several paces behind the dogs and are guilty of disregarding leash laws. My children have been taught never to approach unfamiliar dogs because dogs can behave in unpredictable manners. Naturally, they have been scared when dogs appear out of nowhere and jump on them. All dogs should be leashed in areas where children are present. Perhaps leash laws should be better enforced and the fines raised. Dog owners who disregard leash laws do not worry about being caught because this almost never happens.
gary f
10:13 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Millennium Park is a huge place. Mostly the dog owners and the canines themselves stay to one end of the park. When there are soccer games or around the play area the owners leach they animals and or otherwise control there animal. There are a few, very few uncontrollable animals and those owners have been delt with by other animal owners. There are a many many non-dog owners who believe the park belongs to them and any animal off lead warrents a phone call to 911. This os overkill. We can share the park and respect everybody. Its a few who need policing and its not the dogs.
Karen
7:05 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
I have 3 small dogs (all under 10 lbs). They are always leashed when I walk them. I am considerate of others & care about dog safety. If you are not in your yard, your dog should be leashed. Period. It is the law, regardless of the size of your dog. Don't have a yard & need to exercise your dog? Take him to a dog park or run with him on the leash. Too lazy to do this? Get a smaller dog. Ceasar Millan says, do your breed research & get the dog appropriate for your lifestyle, personality & living space. Many times large 50+ pound dogs come galloping more than 100 feet from their owners & knock down/roll my tiny dogs, getting caught in their leashes & pulling me with them simply because they have not been properly trained. All the while the inconsiderate owners keep calling the dog with no success because they've never bothered to train them & of course yelling, "he's friendly" to me while my dogs growl & whine in pain. I understand the need for big dogs to get their exercise, but not at the expense & well being of other dogs & humans at the park. Everyone needs to respect each other's right to enjoy the park without danger & truly, the only danger I have ever experienced is from large dogs off leash with inconsiderate owners. You can be sure that every pile of dog poop left on the ground belongs to an off leash dog that was not being watched closely enough by his owner. Time to crack down. The leash law should be strictly enforced for everyone's safety & the park's cleanliness.
DogRules
1:34 pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2011
ules are only as good as their enforcement. If there's no enforcement of leash laws, then why would anyone obey them? That's the only way this situation will improve. Has anyone ever in their life seen a dog owner punished by a city official for an unleashed dog? Until that happens, we're all just wasting our breath debating rules that will NEVER been enforced.