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July 18, 2003

Fox 17 News

"Dog Catchers Take Action" story from Fox 17 News covers the recent crackdown at Cambridge Park.

Click on the extended entry below to read full story.

Dog Catchers Take Action

July 17, 2003
GRAND RAPIDS -- There's a big crackdown on pet owners who don't keep their dogs on a leash, as the city of Grand Rapids and Kent County are putting some teeth into their leash laws.

Several dog owners in a neighborhood on the southeast side used to let their canine pals roam free in several area parks. Especially Cambridge Park, where many considered it the unofficial dog park in Grand Rapids.

Now after some complaints, animal control officers are taking action.

"County Commissioners recognized that stray dogs in our community is a large problem, and they want people to take it seriously," says Animal Control Officer Veronica Smith. "They don't want them to think of it as a slap on the wrist.

So officers have been patrolling the neighborhood around Cambridge Park, giving tickets out to those who don't obey the leash law. Earlier, the Grand Rapids Police Department said it issued more than seventy warnings but it didn't stop the problem.

"We're giving people warnings and they are not listening,.so the last few weeks we've been patrolling the area," Smith says.

Dog owners agree the law helps keep pets under control but say a dog park is needed in town.

"At the same time there's got to be a place where pet owners can go, where if you have a safe dog you can safely take them and let them play let them socialize," says dog owner Jilian Rakow.

Animal control says if you get caught letting your dog run loose a second time, it'll cost you $100. A third time, it goes up to $250.

The city of Grand Rapids has budgeted for a new dog park but hasn't decided where to put it.

Posted by Gwen at July 18, 2003 02:18 PM

Comments

My letter to the editor is on its way. I was awake late into the night last night angerly formulating it in my brain in the dark! If they feel stray dogs are such a big problem then why don't they go find them...our dogs aren't strays!

Posted by: Molly at July 19, 2003 11:20 AM

Lucky "stray dog" ticket holders who would like to request a hearing, will have to cough up a $25 non-refundable fee for the hearing! How's that grab ya?
I had a hard time not expressing the way I REALLY felt while discussing this matter with the lady at the front desk. I'm not going to request a hearing if no one else does. I can only justify the possible $45 in total fees if we do this in numbers. We have 20 days after the issue of the ticket to request the hearing so time is running out - let me know soon.

Posted by: Ken Bryan at July 21, 2003 02:57 PM

Some of you seem to forget that laws are in place to PROTECT people. How many times do people swear up and down that their dog is the nicest dog and then it bites someone? Just because a few people that take their friendly dogs to the park for a romp doesn't mean that all dogs going there unleashed are nice. What if your normally obedient dog chased a squirrel from the park into the street and was hit or caused an accident? What if your dog was attacked by another dog? What if your CHILD was attacked by a so-called "friendly" dog off-leash at the park? How would you feel about the law then? I guarantee that many of you would be mad that there were no officers there enforcing that law. Boy, how the tables can turn when you are on the other side of the fence.

The officers are only doing the job that we, as citizens, pay them to do and REQUEST of them to do. If you get a ticket because you didn't obey the law--take some responsibility. We all complain that there is no accountability anymore and yet when we are forced to be accountable, we throw up our hands and yell about how unfair it is. Yes, it is unfortunate that some people with good intentions, that do obey the law most of the time, are the ones to get punished. But isn't that true with everything? If you get a ticket the one time you speed, it isn't fair. The rare occasion that you didn't pay the parking meter, you get ticketed and it isn't fair. Guess what? Remember what dear old mom used to say, what you may even say to your kids now--LIFE ISN'T FAIR!!!

Instead of wasting so much energy on becoming angry at the law or with the people that uphold the law, use that energy to push even harder for a free dog park. And most of all--take some responsibility for your actions. You all know that you are taking a risk letting your dog off-leash at the park. If you get a ticket--smile and pay up.

Posted by: Rachel at July 22, 2003 04:51 PM

OK...we all understand that there is a leash law and that there was the possibility of being ticketed for allowing our dogs off-leash in the park. BUT how many times were we told by different officials that "we mostly turn a blind eye to it" or as another post mentioned, even the mayor said "the ordinance will not directly affect responsible dog owners exercising their dogs and that the ordinance may be reviewed or revised at a later time."

My biggest complaint, though, is that the ticketing was for the dogs being "stray" when that is completely false. And the Fox 17 report made it sound like we were all greatly contributing to the stray dog problem. We are not...our dogs go home with us...on a leash! If they would simply say they were enforcing the leash law, then yes, we can't argue with that. But that is not the case. They certainly gained more public sympahty by making it sound like we were letting our dogs roam the neighborhood...which wasn't truthful.

Posted by: Molly at July 23, 2003 10:26 AM

I cannot comment on the news report on 17 because I didn’t see it, but from what I read of it, it wasn't all that accurate to begin with AND it IS the media--do they ever get anything 100% right? Aren’t we always told not to believe everything we see? This is especially true when it comes to media. If there is a problem with their news report, take it up with them.

As far as the ticket goes, it is in violation of Section 701 of the Animal Control Regulations where it reads, "A person who owns or has custody or control of a dog shall prevent the dog from running as large. A person who owns or has custody or control of a dog shall, at any time the dog is off that person's property, restrain the dog with a lead or leash no greater than 6 feet in length." I think that you are all reading too much into the “stray” part of the issue. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, stray is defined as “a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost”. Your dogs weren’t lost but they were running at large which qualifies them as strays.

The Parks and Rec. Department contacted Animal Control after giving out 78 warnings to people with unleashed dogs. That is quite a considerable amount of warnings. I am curious to know how many of you received at least one warning or heard of someone that did and now you are complaining. Hello!!?? They WARNED you and now it is their fault? I have also been told that there were many so-called “responsible dog owners” who received a $20 dog running at large ticket that didn’t even have their dogs licensed or any other ID for that matter. Many of those people were not given the $40 failure to license ticket—yet no one mentions that. You should be thankful that all you had was a measly $20 ticket! It is a LAW to license any dog 4 months and older. If you knew about the leash law, then you certainly knew about the license law. Did you know that less than 5% of animals coming into the shelter have NO FORM OF IDENTIFICATION on them! That is ridiculous. Who is to say that your dog wouldn’t be one of the 95% some day (or maybe already has)? Even the most responsible dog owners lose their dogs sometimes when they “stray” away…...

The comments that you made are legitimate about the city’s and mayor’s responses of "we’ll turn a blind eye", etc. But those comments pertain to GRPD giving tickets--not Animal Control Officers. Everyone was in a twit when this "new" leash law came out through the city, but most failed to notice that it has been a state law enforced through county officials since the early 1900s! You can't let your dog run off-leash without paying the consequences. Period.

I wish everyone would redirect their energy to things that you can do something about. You can’t change the law but you can create a legal dog park. Instead of fighting these people and organizations, try getting them on your side—I have a good feeling that they will listen.

Posted by: Rachel at July 24, 2003 12:11 PM

OK...we're all a bunch of law-breakers. We admit it. But we also know how great the interaction was for our dogs and for ourselves and we miss it...and if we can't vent some of our frustration over that here then where can we! :)

Posted by: Molly at July 24, 2003 02:39 PM

Right on Molly! This web site was created for dog advocates as a place where we can get information, post photos of our dogs and communicate (this includes venting)... even venting from Animal Control officers is allowed and encouraged.

Posted by: Gwen at July 24, 2003 02:55 PM

Laws and ordinances can be changed when enough people come together and work with the government to create the change. This is exactly what we (grand rapids dog park enthusiasts) have done. We have respectfully gone through all the processes necessary to create an off-leash dog area in the city.

We had a petition drive that produced more than 2000 signatures in favor of our efforts, we’ve attended many city commissioners meetings, created this web site as a source of information for people, and sponsored a city wide parks clean up. I believe this demonstrates a few of the many “responsible” actions we’ve taken as a group.

This site was created so dog owners/lovers could communicate with one another on a large scale. And yes, sometimes that communication has included venting frustrations. The intent is for everyone to be able to communicate with one another and effectively organize ourselves as a group with the common goal of establishing a dog park.

I’m not going to debate the “fairness” of the situation regarding the ticketing at Cambridge. It’s a moot point. And in reading all of the comments this issue has generated I agree that energies should be redirected...by everyone involved. Our goal of creating a dog park has to remain our number one objective and we need people to stay involved. Keep on posting your comments and suggestions on the site, it’s what it was intended for. Attend our meetings, talk to everyone you know about the many benefits a dog park will bring to the city and continue to be an advocate for our cause. I also encourage city officials, animal control, etc., to get involved with us. Post suggestions, ideas or email me personally.

Posted by: dottie at July 24, 2003 06:34 PM

You go Dottie! Everyone involved is frustrated and this site is a great way to voice it. I agree with Dottie that the ticket issue is moot. Now if we could take all of our anger/frustration towards the making of a LEGAL dog park, we may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome! Hobbes misses all of his friends and hopes to see all of them soon...especially the owners who have been nice enough to give him treats! :)

Posted by: Reji at July 25, 2003 10:30 AM

Reji, I miss overflowing buckets of "dog water", pockets stuffed with baggies,and sweet dogs who pleasantly will me to produce copious amounts of tasty treats! I miss slobber, wagging tails, and the thrill that I see in each dog's eyes when they encounter a familar friend. As for Abby, I'll work deligently to give her a voice in all of this. We'll make this work because we can, because we want to, and most importantly because we all made an investment in the care and nurturing of a beloved friend, and all their friends.

Posted by: Mary at July 26, 2003 11:43 AM

Dottie: Your positive outlook and candor is much appreciated. We all need to do our best to stay focused on our common goal.

Chance and I miss all of our human and canine friends! We hope we can all play together again, some day soon.

Posted by: Laurel at July 29, 2003 01:05 PM