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Health & Fitness

WHY LEASHES KEEP DOGS SAFE

How a lovely day and dog walk at the VNSO Park turned into a scary experience.

Please, keep your dogs on leash when you are walking them in public.  And, don’t think your dog is the exception – that it can be completely trusted off-leash. Because you know it is friendly, or will respond immediately to your commands.   No matter what, off-leash walking poses risks to all dogs.  It also exposes you to any combination of fines by the city if you are caught. It raises the potential for costly vet and/or human medical bills if dogs fight. And, worse, it places the life of your dog in jeopardy if public safety officials declare it “vicious.”

I agree that it is hard to think about any dog in such a negative fashion. After all, our dogs are part of our family. We love them.  No doubt that is what one lady thought on the morning before she encountered my husband and me walking our dogs at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park.

As we often do, we were walking across the soccer fields when we saw that lady walking near her off-leash pit bull terrier.  We called to her to “Please, put your dog on leash.”  She became indignant, but made the effort to control her dog.  But, it was too late.  Because the dog reacted and moved faster than she ever could.  Right towards us, at a full run.  We keep yelling at the dog “No,” and to the lady “Get your dog,” all while scrambling to get out of the dog’s way. Fortunately, I had both of our dogs’ leashes in hand, which enabled my husband to advance towards the streaking pit bull. Meanwhile, the lady was trying to assure us that that her dog was “okay.”  Excuse me?  A dog at full-charge towards two other dogs and a woman is “okay?” Fortunately, my husband scared off the dog at the very last second.  And, we were left still yelling at the lady across the field. This time claiming we were going to call the police.  That’s when she finally reached her dog to put it on leash. Needless to say, she left the area very quickly.  While we were left standing in a puddle of jelly contemplating the what-ifs.   Something I hope never happens to us again or, anyone else, during what should be a pleasant time with our dogs.

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At the last Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Community Meeting, I had occasion to speak with Los Angeles Police Department’s Captain Paul Snell, who is stationed in Van Nuys.  I told him this story, and then asked a few questions.  He confirmed that the City’s General Services Police has jurisdiction in public parks to ticket off-leash dogs. (Call 311). And, so do the LAPD. (Call 911). Both can retain a dog until the Department of Animal Regulation comes to pick-up a dog if it has attacked. 

Moreover, the LAPD also has jurisdiction to break into a vehicle if it sees animal suffering from overheating because it has been left inside during a warm or hot day.  Captain Snell said they prefer to wait until a tow truck comes with a “slim jim” as opposed to breaking car windows.  Animal Regulation can be called too (311).

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