[Adopted 4-9-2007 by Ord. No. 07-01]
[Amended 9-10-2018 by Ord. No. 18-12]
Except as expressly allowed in § 152-28 hereof, it is unlawful for any person to allow or permit any dog or other pet to run at large in any park, or to permit any dog or other pet with or without a leash, except service animals or dogs used by public law enforcement agencies and under control of a law enforcement officer, to enter any public beach, swimming or wading area, pond, fountain, stream, organized athletics area or designated children's play area. The Superintendent of Parks or the Animal Control Officers may ban dogs and other pets, or a specific dog or other pet, from areas of any park where he or she determines the same may be a nuisance. "Service animal" means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
[Amended 3-11-2019 by Ord. No.
18-15]
A.
Dog exercise off-leash areas are municipally designated fence-enclosed
facilities owned or operated by the Town of Stratford specifically
intended for dogs to acquire owner/custodian supervised off-leash
exercise. Dogs may be allowed to run at large only in the following
areas hereby designated as off-leash dog exercise areas:
(1)
Jared's Dog Park at Roosevelt Forest.
B.
Dog exercise area rules and regulations.
(1)
All dogs must be accompanied by an owner or keeper at all times.
An owner or keeper must remain in the dog exercise area and keep their
dogs in sight and under their control at all times.
(2)
All dogs using the off-leash dog exercise area must be validly licensed,
wear a licensing tag, and be vaccinated against rabies, as provided
in Chapter 435 of the General Statutes, as may be amended from time
to time. Nonresidents can obtain a permit to use a Town of Stratford
facility by paying a user fee of $25 annually, so long as the dog
is licensed, tagged, and vaccinated in accordance with the provisions
of Chapter 435 of the General Statutes.
(3)
Owners are responsible for the behavior of their dogs and shall be
held responsible for any injuries or damage caused by their dogs.
(4)
Any dog showing aggression toward people or other dogs must be immediately
leashed and removed from the dog exercise area by its owner.
(5)
Any dog barking continuously or uncontrollably must be removed from
the dog exercise area by its owner or keeper.
(6)
Owners shall carry a leash at all times, and dogs must be leashed
when entering and leaving the dog exercise area.
(7)
Owners are responsible for securely latching any gates as they enter
or exit.
(8)
Owners must pick up and properly dispose of their dog's feces.
(9)
Dogs shall not be allowed to dig. Any holes created by a dog shall
be immediately filled by the dog's owner.
(10)
Children must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult
that will be accountable for the behavior and well being of the child.
Children should be discouraged from approaching or playing with strange
dogs.
(11)
Puppies using the dog exercise area must be six months of age
or older.
(12)
No female dog in heat or in season is allowed in the dog exercise
area at any time.
(13)
No eating or smoking is allowed inside the dog exercise area.
No dog food treats or toys from home, except tennis balls or Frisbees,
are allowed in the dog exercise area.
(14)
Professional dog trainers may not conduct their business inside
the dog exercise area. There shall be no dog grooming inside the dog
exercise area.
(15)
No bare feet are allowed in the dog exercise area.
(16)
No spiked dog collars are allowed in the dog exercise area.
C.
Failure to comply with any of the rules and regulations will result
in a fine of $100.
[Amended 3-11-2019 by Ord. No.
18-15]
The Animal Control Officer shall have, within his/her discretion,
the authority to:
