by Scott D. Seligman
While out walking my dog the other night, I ran into another dog owner whose pooch was off the leash. This struck me as a bad idea and I challenged him about it. He assured me what he was doing was perfectly legal, that his dog was very obedient, and that as long as it was under his control – which by him meant voice control – there wasn’t anything wrong with it. That was before he suggested I perform an unnatural act on myself.
I decided to verify his assertion about the law, which I was pretty sure was incorrect. It turns out it that the leash requirement is crystal clear. According to the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations for Animal Control:
No person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog in the District shall permit the dog to be on any public space in the District, other than a dog park established by section 9a of the Animal Control Act of 1979… unless the dog is firmly secured by a substantial leash. The leash shall be held by a person capable of managing the dog.
I’m not the guy who likes to lecture other people about how to live their lives. I only piped up with my neighbor out of concern for the dogs’ safety – mine and his. But the more I thought about the incident, the more I wished I had pursued the matter with him as one dog lover to another. Here’s what I wish I’d said:
1. Walking a dog off-leash is inconsiderate of others on the street or in the park who may be afraid of dogs, or who are walking dogs of their own that are leashed. Your dog may be very friendly, but strangers don’t know this, and some don’t care to encounter an unrestrained animal, even a friendly one. The experience can be especially terrifying to young kids. And if your pooch gets into a tussle with mine, how will you pull him or her off? There’s no safe way to separate them before damage is done.
Scott Seligman and Mendel
2. You may have confidence that your dog will obey you, but all it takes is one random squirrel or rabbit for even the best-trained dog to heed the call of nature and dart into the street. Close your eyes and picture yourself cradling your bloody animal, just struck by a passing car and in pain, as you try to find a way to get to Friendship Animal Hospital quickly for emergency treatment or worse, euthanasia. In what universe was forgoing a leash worth the risk of that happening?
3. There are fenced-in dog parks where your pup can run unfettered and enjoy the company of other dogs whose owners have the same idea. There’s one on Newark Street. I assume you love your dog as much as I do mine; he or she will be far safer untethered there than on the sidewalk.
4. I realize you’re not likely to get pulled over by a cop for a mutt off the leash. But if you do happen to run into a policeman bent on throwing the book at you, you’ll be on the hook for a $300 fine.
For nearly all of our wonderful neighborhood’s dog owners, I know I’m preaching to the choir. But for anyone considering letting a dog run untethered on our sidewalks or in our parks, I implore you to show your neighbors a little more respect and your dog a little more love and follow the law. It’s a good law.
Marilyn says
Great information as we are currently experiencing this along with other pet issues in my apartment building. I will definitely share the info with the other tenants and property management.
Marilyn
Diana Hart says
Thank you for posting this. Being approached by an off leash dog
Is a frightening experience for any dog walker. Mendel is adorable.
Jane Solomon says
From a choir member: Thank you Scott for posting the regulations along with your fine reasoning for following them. Dogs aside, I’m disgusted by what the dog owner obviously said to you. That he flouted both civility and the law in your encounter suggests a general modus operandi in life. It’s sad to think we have such a neighbor in Forest Hills.
Anna Marie says
Thank you for posting this – spot on.
Casey Aboulafia says
Additionally, I have a friend with a dog that is really not friendly with other dogs. Hers is always kept on a leash but her biggest problems are always when her dog starts growling at another dog who is not leashed. She gets very upset that other dog owners don’t understand that it’s a difficult situation for her as another dog owner – And potentially quite dangerous for both dogs . You never know what situation you will run into on the street.
Paul says
Scott (and FHC) thank you for this commentary. Off-leash dogs is a problem all over our area, but especially on the paths in the Broad Branch and Linnean Park stream restoration areas. Off leash dogs are not only potentially unsafe or give unwanted attentions, as Scott points out, but their owners seem less inclined to follow after them and pick up the poop.
My dog is large, exuberant and friendly. He is also a dog, and I do not trust him to be friendly with every dog he meets — and I have no reason at all to trust the other dogs. There is no reason to experiment with dogs meeting dogs, and I dislike when “neighbors” decide to force the experiment on me.