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Sarasota Opts To Put Dogs On Shorter Leash

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CAROL E. LEE / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: October 16, 2007

SARASOTA - Dog owners soon will have to put leashes on their four-legged pets before taking them out for a stroll in the city.

City commissioners unanimously decided Monday to adopt the county's stiffer dangerous dogs and leash ordinances. The change comes a month after some residents complained about a pit bull and boxer mix dog roaming their streets and frightening them back inside their homes.

The stricter rules are expected to go into effect Nov. 5. The ordinance will require dogs to be on a leash when not confined on their owners' property and allow county animal control officers to impound those considered vicious. Violations come with up to $500 in fines.

The city's current ordinance allows dogs to walk around leashless as long as they remain within 100 feet of their owners and are under voice command.

That made it difficult for animal control officers to enforce the regulations for dangerous dogs and to fine their owners.

Animal control officers wanted commissioners to make enforcement even easier by also applying the leash ordinance to all city parks and designate dog-specific "paw parks," as is done in the county.

But commissioners stopped short of broadening the ordinance's scope and retained the city's authority to decide whether dogs -- leashed or unleashed -- are allowed in city parks.

Dogs in Gillespie and Arlington parks will have to be on leashes. And those in Bayfront and Island parks may be let off their leashes along the water to take a swim but must be leashed when back on land.

In other city parks, except in designated pet-free areas, dogs may remain unleashed as long as they are under voice command and within 100 feet of their owners.

Neighbors of the pit bull-boxer in Bellevue Terrace that inspired adoption of the new rules are not so concerned with dog freedom in parks as they are with being able to resume their daily activities.

"Nobody here is worried about the parks," said Mark Folts, a resident. "We're worried about getting our mail or taking our garbage to the curb or getting our kids to the bus stop."

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