Bullock laboring over pilot dog walking program
Councilperson Thomas Bullock (Ward 2) introduced for discussion a draft proposal to the Public Safety Committee that would establish a 12-month pilot program permitting leashed dog walking in Kauffman Park and Lakewood Park.
Bullock, who is a candidate for state representative in Ohio District 13, has lumbered along for more than six months trying to find a plan of compromise to satisfy both skeptical fellow council members and Lakewood’s vocal population of dog lovers.
Based on the feedback he received at the Thursday, October 15th meeting, he will make additional adjustments to the proposal. It doesn’t seem like the matter will go before council for a vote anytime soon.
Councilperson Brian Powers (At-Large) continued to be agitated by the role of the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Park. He’s unhappy because they are not incorporated as a non-profit 501C(3) organization. The group is raising funds to support the purchase and maintenance of dog manure receptacles.
Councilperson Mary Louise Madigan (Ward 4), who seemed cranky about the meeting’s 8 a.m. start time, wondered why city council should get involved if it’s only a pilot project. She felt the public works director should handle it alone. She also took a poke at the validity of the 680 signatures the citizens committees collected in favor of legalizing leashed dog walking, wondering if any children had signed the petition.
Among Madigan’s other concerns were the program’s cost to the city, the distance dogs must stay from playground equipment (30 feet) and community gardens (15 feet), and the maximum permissible leash length (6 feet).
Bullock acknowledged the distances were “pulled out of thin air, frankly.” He said city council is involved in the pilot project because some members of council have insisted upon it. Bullock was likely alluding to Councilperson Nickie Antonio (At-Large).
Donna Klein, a member of the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks, said she recommended a maximum leash length because retractable leashes can extend as far as 30 feet and inhibit an owner’s ability to control their pet.
Councilperson Kevin Butler (Ward 1) welcomed the idea of a pilot leashed dog walking program because it will create an opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of the policy shift.
Police Chief Timothy Malley noted Bullock’s proposal prohibits dogs from the parks on the Fourth of July. “I wonder if that would be a little burdensome [to enforce],” he said. “That would be another problem we don’t need on July 4th.”
Captain Gary Stone said his biggest concern is that people would be tempted to unleash their dog and allow it to run loose.
Lakewood resident Jack Hagen, a strong opponent of leashed dog walking in city parks, cited challenges with cost, liability, nuisance, and enforcement as reasons why he’s not comfortable with the proposed program.
He visited Lakewood Park recently and saw dozens and dozens of children playing and wondered how the scene would look if dogs were introduced into the picture.
Hagen shared an anecdote about his young relative who received six stitches after being bitten by a usually mild-mannered dog. “These are real things that could happen, even in the best of circumstances,” he said.
Clifton Apartment Dweller Edward McCartney liked the proposed program, but suggested adding an option to end to the experiment early if there are problems.
Bullock said he would take all feedback into consideration, make additional changes to the proposal and continue discussion at the next committee meeting. (Read a prior post on this topic: “What’s a poor poodle to do?”)
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