Enforcing of Leash Law in Parks to Get Hearing
The public will have an opportunity to comment on leash-law enforcement at Los Angeles parks at a hearing Wednesday evening before the city Animal Regulation Commission.
The hearing was called in response to complaints by dog owners who frequent Laurel Canyon Park, in the mountains above Studio City, that animal control officers have been overzealous in enforcement of the leash law.
Robert Rush, general manager of the city Department of Animal Regulation, also is conducting an investigation, ordered by the commission April 15, of leash-law enforcement at the park.
For the eight weekends from March 2 through April 21, a crackdown on dogs running loose in Laurel Canyon Park resulted in issuance of 74 citations to pet owners, Rush said. Similar efforts have been under way in four other parks, including North Hollywood Park, in which 43 citations were issued during the same period.
The tickets carry a $43 fine.
Rush said the stepped-up enforcement is necessary to stop the large number of dogs running loose in parks. He said the dogs interfere with the public’s enjoyment of parks and expose park users to the danger of bites.
The hearing will be at 7 p.m. in Room 155 of City Hall South, 111 E. 1st St., in downtown Los Angeles.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
