[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Burlington as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and public places — See Ch. 230.
[Adopted 6-20-2017]
Dogs controlled by a leash whenever they are taken to public
property or private property open to the public will prevent them
from harming or interfering with other animals, people, or property.
It will also prevent dogs from becoming lost or from being injured
by vehicles or animals. Owners should not assume that their dogs will
always act in a predictable manner in unusual circumstances or with
unfamiliar people. In such situations, there is a greater risk of
dogs biting or attacking people and, therefore, additional precautions
are recommended. It is necessary in order to ensure the public health
and safety to restrict some public property from any access by dogs
or other pets, including dogs or other pets on leash.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
- AT LARGE
- A dog on public property that is unrestrained by a leash, or a dog that is on private property without permission of the person who owns or has a right to possess or use that property, except any service dog, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or dog engaged in field trials or legal hunting, provided it is under the control of its owner. The unauthorized presence of any dog, not attended by or under the control of such dog's owner, on the land of any person other than the dog's owner, on public property, or on any portion of a public highway shall be prima facie evidence of being at large.
- LEASH
- Any rope, leather strap, or other material not exceeding six feet in length with a clasp, being held in the hand of a person actually controlling the dog to which it is attached.
- OWNER
- Any person or organization that owns, possesses, or has custody of a dog. The Town, the State of Connecticut, the United States of America, and the agents thereof are not owners under this article.
- PUBLIC PROPERTY
- Any property that is owned, managed or controlled by the Town or the State of Connecticut and is open to the public.
Should a dog injure any person or domestic animal in violation
of C.G.S. § 22-357, the owner of such dog shall, in addition
to the penalties proscribed by the General Statutes and any damages
allowed by law, pay $100 per incident to such domestic animal's
owner if the victim is a domestic animal, and, if the victim is a
person, pay $250 per incident to the victim.
The penalty for a violation of § 131-3 of this article shall be $100 per occurrence, enforced through the State of Connecticut Centralized Infractions Bureau by the issuance of an infraction ticket pursuant to C.G.S. § 51-164n.
