$1,000 fines for dog law violators outrage some residents

April 20, 12:10 AMBaltimore Republican ExaminerSean O'Donnell

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Kayla, resident of Federal Hill  (Examiner.com/Sean O'Donnell)

BALTIMORE, Md. – The city is coming down hard on dog owners who walk their dogs without a leash and don’t pick up their pets’ animal waste. First-time offenders are being hit with $1,000 fines.

In the past, first-time offenders were usually given a $100 fine. Recently, the city has gotten tougher on violators of the law because of numerous complaints. Animal Control and police officers from Baltimore’s Southern District set up a sting operation in Riverside Park on March 29th to catch dog owners violating the law.

Baltimore city law requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than six feet and for dog owners to pick up all solid animal waste.

Michelle Calon of Canton, dog owner of Zoey, opined on the harsh fines:

[The fines] are absolutely ridiculous. I take my dog to Patterson Park everyday and there is a large dog community there. If the city wants to slap ridiculous fines on people for exercising their pets, they should build more dog parks and concentrate on the serious problems in the city.

Anyone who has visited Baltimore’s parks may sometimes see dogs without a leash relieving themselves while their owners are oblivious, and therefore don’t clean up the waste.

Visitors may also see leash-less dogs attack other dogs and sometimes even people. The April newsletter for the Riverside Neighborhood Association printed a tragic story where a large dog off its leash killed a small dog in Riverside Park. Because of safety concerns for children, the park doesn’t allow dogs within the fenced playground area.

While the fines are necessary to control several problems, many dog owners feel the fine amount is too steep.

Federal Hill resident Walker James Marr, who owns a pit bull mix named Brooke, was surprised by the fines:

I can’t believe the city would issue $1,000 dollar fines for that. What’s the point of taking your dog to the park if you can’t take it off the leash to run around?

Democrat city council members are expected to propose a bill Monday that will reduce the fine amount from $1,000 to $250 for first-time offenders.

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