HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-12 City Council (11)TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE
DATE:
SUBJECT:
APRIL 12, 1999 CMR:200:99
INFORMATION ON LEASH LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
In 1967, the City Council adopted Municipal Code Section 6.16.100 that prohibits dogs from
being on a street, sidewalk, park, school ground or public place unless held on a leash by an
able-bodied person. Since then, Animal Services staff has usually issued warnings to dog
owners who were in violation of the leash law. The emphasis was on education and not
enforcement. Occasionally, complaints were received and, additional patrols were conducted
for the problem areas. In the past several months, however, the number and severity of
complaints about unleashed dogs have escalated. Complaints have included behavior such
as aggressive dogs intimidating young children; large dogs jumping on people; dogs
defecating and owners not cleaning up after them; and unleashed dogs approaching dogs on
a leash. Additionally, staff has observed a significant increase in the number of dogs who
have been killed by vehicles during the last year. As a result, Animal Services staff recently
initiated more proactive and stringent enforcement efforts aimed at reducing these incidents.
DISCUSSION
Over the last several months, Animal Services staff has received a number Of telephone calls
from citizens complaining about the number and frequency of dog owners who allowed their
dogs to run free, especially in City parks and school grounds. While engaged in their normal
job duties, Community Services Parks employees were confronted by angry residents who
complained about the unsafe conditions that they encountered in the parks due to the number
of unleashed dogs. Residents complained that they were fearful of allowing their children
to play in the parks for fear of being bitten by dogs that were not under control of their
owners. Recently, a resident called to report that 10 unleashed dogs were off-leash in one
of the smaller parks. The locations that many of the complaints were related to included
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Eleanor Park, Seale Park, Bol Park and the Gunn High School grounds.
While many dog owners are responsible and ensure that their dogs are either on a leash or
under their immediate control, interactions between dogs and people are not always positive.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dog bite victims needing
medical attention in the United States last year numbered between 500,000 and one million.
Children made up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims. The National Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention estimates half of all children under the age of 12 and younger
have been bitten by a dog. Fortunately, in the last two years, the number of reported dog
bites in Palo Alto has remained constant with 73 reported in 1997 and 74 in 1998. A number
of those bites were the result of dogs being off-leash and not under control.
Staff has also been concerned with the safety of animals as well. In 1998, 407 stray dogs
were impounded in Palo Alto. Of those strays, 62 had to be euthanized. Last year, a
significant increase in the number of dogs killed after being hit by cars was observed in Palo
Alto (42 compared to 17 the previous year). In all cases, the dogs were not on a leash.
As a result of the complaints and the information described above, last month Animal
Services staff began to patrol City parks more frequently in order to address the problem.
Historically, warnings have usually been given to owners of dogs who were observed in
violation. As an example, in 1997, only 10 citations were issued and in 1998, only eight were
issued. However, as Animal Services staff began to increase enforcement efforts, it became
apparent that warnings were not serving as the deterrent that they once were. A number of
the same people were being warned time and again, without any change in their behavior.
Animal Control Officers subsequently began issuing citations to dog owners whose dogs
were off-leash while on public property. During the last five weeks, approximately 100
citations have been issued. As mentioned previously, many of the citations were issued to
people who had received prior warnings. The majority of tho~e dog owners who have
received citations have admitted knowing about the leash law, but indicated that they have
chosen to ignore it in order to provide enough exercise for their dogs.
Animal Control Officers have been patrolling in the morning and. evening hours, seven days
a week, when park Usage is highest. Since the initial enforcement effort began, Animal
Control Officers have been given direction to use more discretion prior to issuing citations.
In many instances, a well-trained, obedient dog within arm’s reach Of its owner is considered
under control-and in those circumstances, the owner would not be cited but warned.
However, in situations where the dogs are a distance from the owner and are not considered
under the direct control of the owners, citations will continue to be issued.
The City currently has three facilities for use by dog owners: two small runs at Greer and
Hoover Parks, and a larger run at Mitchell Park. In 1995, City staff requested $25,000 to
move the Mitcl~ell Park dog run in order to alleviate the problems associated with its
proximity to the Stevenson House. The Council voted to keep the dog run at that location,
CMR:200:99 Page 2 of 3
and approved funding to mitigate the noise and odor problems. At that time, the City Council
also directed staff to explore alternative locations for a dog run. Staff worked with dog nm
users and determined that a facility with minimal dimensions of 225 feet in length and 125
in width was needed. Sites at Greer Park, the Colorado Electric Substation, and a piece of
land behind the Little League Field on Middlefield Road were examined. While the site at
Greer Park was large enough, due to the costs of between $75,000 and $100,000 that were
estimated to be needed to develop a new dog run at that location, togethe~ with the concern
from dog owners about the heavy vehicle traffic in the area and the distance from their
homes, no further consideration was given at that time to any alternative dog run facilities.
Staff is in the process of reviewing a potential alternative to address the situation. The
alternative would be to choose several selected parks that dog owners would be permitted to
exercise their dogs off-leash during certain hours of the day. After obtaining additional
information, staff will meet with residents to get their input about this idea. This concept
would require an amendment to the current Municipal Code. Staff will return to Council
with specific recommendations after the meeting with the residents.
PREPARED BY: Sandra Stadler, Animal Services Superintendent
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
TRICK DWYI~R, Ch~fef of Police
EMILY~HARRISON, Assistant C~’]Vlanager
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