(A) Dogs permitted on-leash. Except as herein provided, no person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall permit or allow the same to be in a public park unless such dog is restrained by a leash not more than six feet in length and under the control of a competent person able to restrain such dog.
(B) Exceptions. The requirement for a dog to be on-leash while in public parks shall not apply to the following:
(1) Any dog used by a law enforcement agency.
(2) A dog while participating in a dog obedience training program or a dog obedience or conformation show authorized by the City Manager, although such dog shall be on leash or otherwise restrained while not actively participating in such show or program.
(3) A dog within a posted leash optional area of the park as designated by the City Council, provided, however, nothing herein shall relieve the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of such dog from the responsibility to maintain proper control over such dog nor shall this division be construed as relieving such person from liability for any damages arising out of his or her use of a leash optional area.
(C) Rules and regulations for dogs in public parks.
(1) (a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having charge, care, custody of any dog in a public park not to immediately pick up and properly dispose of the feces of such dog.
(b) Proper disposal shall include the placement of such feces in a bag or other container and its removal from the park and disposal in an appropriate depository; provided, however, in designated leash optional areas, such bag or other container may be deposited in a container, if any, designated for such purpose.
(2) No dog is permitted in any designated leash optional area in the custody of a child 12 years of age or younger unless such child is accompanied and supervised by a person at least 18 years of age.
(3) No person may have more than two dogs in a designated leash optional area at any one time.
(4) Any dog in a designated leash optional area must be under the voice control of the person having custody of such dog while the dog is in said area.
(5) No dogs are permitted in a designated leash optional area except during posted hours of operation.
(6) No person shall place a dog in a designated leash optional area which is not over the age of four months, vaccinated for rabies and wearing a current dog tag, or whose owner has within his or her possession said dog tag.
(7) No person shall place a dog that is sick or in heat in a designated leash optional area.
(8) No person shall place an aggressive dog, of any breed, in a designated leash optional area even if such dog is on a leash.
(9) Any person having care or custody of a dog in a leash optional area shall quiet the dog if the dog barks.
(10) No person shall bring any animal other than a dog to a leash optional area unless otherwise specifically authorized by the City Manager in writing.
(11) The use of a leash optional area by the owner or other person having charge, care, custody or control of a dog shall constitute agreement by that person to follow the rules provided in this division (C), and his or her agreement to protect, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the city and its officers and employees from any claim, injury or damage arising from or in connection with such use.
(Ord. 2014-146, passed 5-21-2014)