Animal Control Officer to Monitor Dog Park

In response to complaints from neighbors, an animal control officer will be stationed at a city dog park on a trial basis.

The City Council voted Tuesday to implement a three-month program in which the officer will supervise dogs and dog owners at Joslyn Park during in the mornings and evenings, when use is highest.

Animal control officers will also randomly visit the city’s other off-leash areas to check that dogs have Santa Monica licenses and to ensure that dogs owners are observing the hours of operation, said Barbara Stinchfield, the city’s director of community and cultural services.

The other city dog parks are Pacific Street Park and Memorial Park. All are open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. weekends.

Stinchfield said the city decided to fine-tune its park policy after Joslyn Park neighbors complained of dog noise and odor and of dog owners bringing their pets to the park before and after hours.

The council also approved changes in design standards for dog parks and said no more than two dogs could accompany an owner-handler to a park at once.