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Politics & Government

Town Council Approves Leash Law, 8-1

Ordinance still allows for dogs to remain off-leash, but "under control" in public parks and water access areas.

The Town Council voted 8-1 on Monday to approve a leash law for Windsor, though the amended ordinance is less specific and strict than an initial proposal in November that alarmed some dog owners.

Gone from the new law is a requirement that leashes be six feet in length, in response to dog owners expressing preference, in some cases, for retractable leashes that allow them to keep their pets under control. Also, dogs will continue to be allowed off-leash in wide-open public parks or water access areas “as long as the owner/keeper keeps the dog under restraint… This restraint must ensure that the dog does not go within the personal space of other citizens or their animals (no closer than 10 feet) and that the dog does not cause anxiety or fear to citizens by assertive or aggressive behaviors. If a citizen verbalizes fear or concern or reacts to the dog by changing his or her position, the owner/keeper shall immediately apply a leash to their dog.”

Supporters of the leash law indicated they believe the amended ordinance strikes a balance between recognizing the personal freedom of pet owners and the rights of others.

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“Hopefully we have something that will hold up in court, should it come to that,” said Councilor William Herzfeld. “The onus is 100 percent on the dog owners.”

Councilor Donald Jepsen voted against the ordinance, saying that it was unnecessary and wasn’t going to change the behavior of the few bad dog owners there are in town. The previous ordinance was sufficient for prosecuting and fining bad pet owners, according to Jepsen.

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“You can’t fix stupid,” he told the council, speaking of owners who could not or would not control their dogs. “I’m going to vote against this.”

Earlier in the meeting, resident Bruce Bernstein, a dog owner, asked the council to clarify the ordinance with regard to where a dog would be allowed off-leash. He asked whether or not a pet could be allowed off-leash on the Windsor River Walk Trail or in areas around Oliver Ellsworth School. Council members indicated that those locations are public spaces, but returned to the key rule for having a dog off-leash — that the animal not be allowed in the personal space of others.

Animal Control Officer Brian Davis told the council that police “would be reasonable” in enforcing the new ordinance. “When we get a complaint, we will investigate and get both sides of the story,” Davis said. “We will make sure that proper actions are taken.”

Deputy Mayor Alan Simon asked if the new ordinance would supersede signs at Northwest Park that already mandate that dogs be leashed there, perhaps creating a loophole for owners to allow dogs off leash. Town Manager Peter Souza said that the ordinance would take precedence but that signs could be changed if necessary. “The intent is, while people are on trails, the dogs must be under restraint,” Souza said.

Under the new ordinance, a pet owner found in violation of the leash law or who fails to keep their pet under control is subject to a $100 fine. The amended ordinance also requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats three months of age or older, with a fine of $136 for failure to vaccinate; and the town now requires all dogs to be registered with the town, with a fine of $75 for not having a license.

Police Chief Kevin Searles originally suggested last fall that a review of the current ordinance was in order, given increases in dog-related incidents in town. More than a dozen residents at a expressed reservations regarding the first, stricter version of a leash-law ordinance, prompting the council to make revisions.

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