Neighbor Outraged Over Off Leash Dogs At Laurelhurst Park

picture sent in by reader October 2013

The Laurelhurst Blog consistently receives comments, which are posted, from frustrated residents who regularly visit the park and encounter off-leash dogs, which is against the law.

There are no exceptions just "because an owner wants his dog to get exercise," as a reader told us last month.

Magnuson offers an off-leash dog area to be used by those off-leash dog owners, not Laurelhurst or any other public park, not formally designated as off-leash.

The neighbors, who  are often scared for their children, with their often aggressive small and large dogs running freely, are frustrated that fellow neighbors are not following Seattle's City Code (SMC 9.25.084) to keep dogs on leashes, except in designated off-leash areas. A violation can result in a $54 fine.

Here is the most recent email received: 

I would like to communicate to our Laurelhurst neighbors and friends through the Laurelhurst Blog, in the clearest possible terms, the importance of keeping dogs on leashes at Laurelhurst Park.

Both my wife and my 5 year old son have been approached by aggressive or unruly dogs off leash in recent days, leading to the 5 year old now being very scared of animals, and threatening the health of my wife who recently had back surgery and relies on using the park safely for her rehabilitation.  

In the case of the incident with my 5 year old son at the playground, no apology was even offered, even though the off leash dog bit food right out of his hand. 

Let me be very clear to the community (and we do like dogs very much but the way): 

1. There is a leash law that applies at Laurelhurst Park. If a dog is off leash, the law is being broken. 

2. We have called Seattle Animal Control to report incidents, and we will continue to do so when we see incidents. If the dog is repeatedly off-leash, people will be getting a ticket. 

3. When I hear “Oh don’t worry, he/she/said dog wouldn't hurt anyone” after a dog runs at me, I am neither reassured nor do I know that beforehand. This comment, while frequently and apologetically offered, is utterly enraging. 

4. There is an off-leash area at Magnuson Park. Use it please. 

5. The dog owner is responsible for the dog’s behavior. If the dog did it, you did it.

Another Concerned Reader About Un-leashed Dogs In Laurelhurs​t Park

picture sent in by reader

We receive many emails from readers asking others to keep their dogs on leashes. It is in violation of City Code (SMC 9.25.084) to not leash dogs, except in designated off-leash areas, and it can result in a $54 fine.

Here are more emails recently received:

I know that your readers have posted about this subject in the past. Please continue to keep the issue in front of your readers. If every dog owner in Laurelhurst used the park as their own person dog run, it would cease to be a park that families could use as intended and we would need to fence it off and call it a Dog Park. There is a Dog Park a 5 minute drive from our neighborhood and it would be nice if neighbors would place a higher priority on common courtesy. 

While in PE off leash dogs are everywhere and while we are running sprints on the field, owners do little to keep their dogs away from us.

There should be random visits to the park from a police officer. I, too, have had off leash dogs charge after my leashed dog. Not only am I afraid of an attack to my dog but to me as well and for any child that may be in the park.

Neighbors Concerned About Unleashed Dogs On School Grounds, Could Be Unsanitary For Kids

 

 

A Blog Reader sent us this email:

I live near the Laurelhurst Elementary School. I regularly see people with their dogs at the North Playground, leashed and unleashed. We have "picked up" after these dogs on the playground because inattentive owners are chatting with their kids or other parents and don't see what the dog is doing. Kind of makes me wonder about how sanitary those wood chips under the playground equipment are.
 

Another Blog reader wrote:

It seems there are many more unleashed dogs on the School grounds in the recent years, and also at the park. We ask our fellow neighbors to please adhere to City policy regarding leashing dogs at all times. No one is exempt from this city mandated law.

It is in violation of City Code (SMC 9.25.084) to not leash dogs, except in designated off-leash areas, and it can result in a $54 fine.

Here is another recent Blog post on this important issue.