What are the enforceable rules for off-leash dogs at Santa Barbara City parks?
Multiple times this week I’ve been at local parks (Shoreline, Mesa Park) and I’ve witnessed numerous off-leash dogs running around where little kids are playing on the playground.
There have been no incidents (yet) but I’ve witnessed large dogs approach toddlers with parents running to intervene or protect their kids.
I’m assuming these are all on-leash park areas and owners are being reckless and inconsiderate. Is there any recourse or does anyone enforce this?
These are the same people who say “but he’s friendly!” right before the dog attacks someone. Anyone who has their dog off leash in areas they aren’t supposed to (especially with little kids around!) is a jerk. Approaching them will only escalate the situation. Take photos, send it to animal control.
Dial 1-800-SNITCH with you pfft. You’re probably the same one that used to tell on mommy and daddy for smoking a joint🤣
Self-entitled scofflaw, obviously.
“snitch” is a pejorative term invented by mobsters.
yeah lets rat our our neighbors and other community members. your flat out awful. then again, that is what id expect from someone hiding their name. also calling dog owners jerks for taking their dogs off leash? really? the people that allow their unruly kids to run around trashing things are looked upon as the same. we also feel this way about dog haters. approaching them only escalates things? good god you are the one trying to escalate things. you have a warped twisted bitter view of things.
lets see some facts, we would like to see your facts here. dogs attacking kids in SB. friendly dogs that owers say are friendly before they attack kids in SB, lets see the #’s. Oh wait…you have none because there is none. glad you’re making up things to get your post read.
💯 🫡
It’s referred to as a Leash Law. It’s not a Request or a Suggestion, it’s a Law.
Not unlike any other Law.
There are specifically identified parks & a beach that are acceptable off-leash spaces. Everywhere else in an on-leash area.
Many adults, children & dogs are uncomfortable having their space suddenly invaded by an unknown off-leash dog.
This is probably a stretch, but try seeing this situation from a perspective other than your own reactionary one.
ok so we have Karen and Darren crying online about dogs running around and playing and children playing. that is literally what you are doing. you even state no incident, yet you are expecting one? that’s weird. you also assume every dog is vicious and eventually will attack a child. Right. I would take a huge stab at this and say you have never trained or cared for a dog. Also, let me be crystal clear, the majority of dogs are more behaved and better trained than most kids I see running around unattended. I train and work with belgian malinois. I’m sure you have a lot to say about them. You also automatically assume a large dog is more dangerous? Seriously. Its like you are both weird and paranoid. Smaller dogs are ten times more vicious and attack people vs larger breed dogs. This is a fact. Please take your phobias and paranoia and anti dog chatter elsewhere. I personally find deep offence in your post.
Wow, the fact that you are using the words Karen and Darren, says more about you then the two others. Are you in 2nd grade, because that is just silly. I am a dog owner, who takes my dogs out every single day, and I 100% agree with halibut52 and anonymous. One of my dogs was attacked by a “friendly” off leash Rottweiler, while my dog was leashed. This was in a wide open public space with many people out walking. So yes, off leash dogs often make myself, as well as my dog, uncomfortable and wondering what might happen. Once you have seen your dog or any dog, attacked, you won’t shake that feeling. I am all for off leash places but Shoreline Park is definitely not one of them.
We can tell! Wow.
I’ve broken up dog fights and another time had my dog attacked by an off leash dog. If you don’t like the leash laws, then you should work to have them repealed. In the mean time it’s not a do whatever you feel like world.
Except for the guy you voted for.
I go to Shoreline Park everyday. The dog owners are good at keeping their dogs on leases. A few dogs are off lease but watched carefully by their owners. There doesn’t seem to be a problem. Some owners throw balls for their pets. A couple of owners will have one dog on a lease and another not. That of lease dog trots near the owner on its own. A few owners have their dogs on lease and muzzle them, too. I have never seen any children threatened. It’s humans who you have to watch out for when protecting your children.
Are we talking about dog owners, or people that merely rent them?
You need to have your dogs on a leash either way.
TRUTH
For humankind’s most noble achievement of self-government to endure, adherence to the rule of law is essential.
http://countyofsb-ca.elaws.us/code/coor_ch26_artiii_sec26-49
§ 26-49. Dogs required on leash.
Latest version.
(a)
Unless otherwise approved by community services director or their designee, no person shall bring any dog into any county recreation area that is marked or designated as “NO DOGS ALLOWED.”
(b)
No person shall bring a dog into or permit a dog to enter or remain within, or maintain a dog within any county recreation area unless the dog is on a leash not more than six feet in length and under the immediate control of a capable and responsible person, or properly confined. It is unlawful to permit any dog to run at large within any county recreation area or to be within any county recreation area without a physical restraint.
SB City:
https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/departments/santa-barbara-police-department/city-animal-regulations
B. DOGS IN PUBLIC. No dog is permitted upon a street or other public place unless on a leash not in excess of six (6) feet in length and under the immediate care and control of the owner or other person having the care and custody thereof, except during supervised dog training classes, shows or exhibitions held in City Parks when authorized by a Park Use Permit issued by the Parks and Recreation Department.
C. OFF LEASH DOG AREAS IN CITY PARKS AND BEACH. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, properly licensed and tagged dogs without vicious, dangerous or aggressive propensities and are healthy and not in heat may be exercised off-leash within the areas designated in paragraph C (2) if under the care, custody or control of a person responsible for the off-leash dog.
Responsible Person: A person having possession, charge, custody or control of the off-leash dog must remain present with the off-leash dog at all times, must carry a leash, must leash the dog at the first sign of aggression, must clean up dog feces created by the dog, and bears full responsibility for filling any holes and repairing any damage created by the dog. The person responsible for the off-leash dog must comply with rules and regulations regarding the park, and must remove the dog when the off-leash dog park is closed.
Off Leash Dog Areas: Dogs may be exercised off-leash in the following areas: · Douglas Family Preserve, within the area posted by the Parks and Recreation Director in accordance with the resolution adopted by the City Council. · Elings Park, subject to the rules and regulations of the operator of the park. · Hale Park. · On the beach from the Shoreline Park Staircase west to the eastern edge of the Arroyo Burro Estuary.
If you want your dog to run freely and safely, download the Sniffspot App and use the one in Goleta; half acre, fully fenced all to yourself.
As a past breeder of Siberian Huskies shown both in conformation and obedience. I can say with experience that all dogs should be restrained. Dogs with prick(up) ears are seen by other dogs as aggressive, automatically. Yuri wouldn’t hurt a fly but he was lunged at many times by other dogs, luckily they were restrained also. I was in the front yard once with Yuri when a stray dog ran into the yard took one look at Yuri and hightailed it down the street with Yuri courteously in hot pursuit following it. I stepped into the street said “Yuri come!” which he instantly turned and returned to sit in front of me. “Yuri heal” he sat to my left side. Had he not been well trained he would still be tagging along with that other dog. That was the only time he was out front without a lead on. All laws matter. Not only the ones you pick and choose.
There are three legally off-leash areas within the City Limits of Santa Barbara and several other areas designated as legally off-leash in nearby parts (Goleta, Montecito, e.g.) of the County. There are even more such legally off-leash areas if you include Buellton and Santa Maria.
Within the City Limits of Santa Barbara the three areas designated as legally off-leash are: 1) Douglas Family Preserve (Wilcox Property), 2) the beach below the DFP from Hendry’s Beach, extending east below Shoreline Park and stopping at Leadbetter Beach and 3) Hale Park. (Hale Park address is: 875 Camino Viejo Rd. 93108 —- and, yes, it is within the City Limits).
In any area within the City Limits, whether it be a park or open space or SBCC Campus or wherever, unless it is one of the three areas listed above — off-leash activity is not legal.
That said, there are regulations pertaining to one having their dog off-leash in legally designated off-leash areas. https://www.countyofsb.org/887/Off-Leash-Dog-Areas
I forgot to include Elings Park. There are off-leash privileges there, but only if you pay for “membership” —- and membership is not cheap.
As others have stated, leash laws are laws – not optional. Those who think that laws don’t apply to them exhibit a sense of entitlement which conveys narcissism, especially those who “name-call” when called out (I’m referring to you, K-9). Furthermore, the rationale behind leash laws is obvious: public safety. While walking my dog on a leash, I feel assured when everyone else I see is walking their dog on a leash as well (which is usually the case). However, the occasional outlier creates stress and risk for everyone. Following this law shows consideration for the comfort and safety of everyone. Everyone has the right to enjoy public spaces without fear or annoyance of loose dogs.
100%
As noted by others, the self-righteousness of people who refuse to leash their dogs in public areas is remarkable. I and my spouse regularly walk our dog on leash in the neighborhood and occasionally encounter a large rambunctious dog running yards away from its caretakers. When asked to put the dog on leash they get very aggressive and usually resort to childish name calling. Others who walk dogs off leash seem to guests/tourists perhaps who aren’t compliant with local rules in many ways. In fact they just leave the dog to crap and walk on. So as noted, the general attitude of those who refuse is basically one of selfishness and entitlement. We can hope for some enforcement such as one might expect to deal with people who drive too fast in automobiles. But that enforcement is anathema to city government so what’s left is confrontation and shaming. Sad.
Unfortunantely the kind of person who lets their dog off leash where they shouldn’t has already decided laws don’t apply. The best thing to do is report them and ensure SBPD and Animal Control have documentation.
First, take pictures of the dog and their owner. If possible, their car and license plate. You can report off-leash dogs to SB Animal Control at 805-882-8900 under 6.08.020 Animal Running at Large. Provide them with the time, location, and pictures (even better if you have video of the behavior and location). It will take more than one report to get them involved so encourage others to do the same even if it is the same incident (for example have anyone and everyone with you make a report) as more people = more attention by the city. If they get multiple reports about the same dog/owner they will investigate and contact the owner.
The key is documentation, encouraging others to report, and understanding that the only way this works is through consistency and perseverance. You will likely have to see the same person reported 3-4 times before action is taken. That’s just the nature of the beast. But if you can point to multiple reports on the same person/animal, it cannot be ignored. Even if the animal does attack someone before action is taken documentation filed with the city will be on hand to show the dog and owner were a known issue and will allow anyone attacked a much stronger case in court and force a more proactive stance on future law breaking.
Again: You can report off-leash dogs to SB Animal Control at 805-882-8900 under 6.08.020 Animal Running at Large. Report every incident, have everyone with you report on the incident.
Another caveat. DO NOT ENGAGE IN AN ARGUMENT WITH OWNERS. It may happen that they confront you or get in your face. Simply state that this is a dog on leash area and that you are filming for public safety and concern. Do NOT respond beyond this. Don’t yell, don’t get aggressive, and don’t say anything other than you are documenting it for public safety. If you get heated and engage you are taking away from the point of filming and it hurts your position. If they touch you, threaten to touch you, say they will put hands on you, threaten you in any way it’s assault and you should call cops immediately.
KNein is such a great name for someone who doesn’t get the on-leash deal. Laws. Arrogance and entitlement, of course. S/he doesn’t know better? Cmon man.
Traits you share.
When a dog charges at me I get very nervous – a 90% chance he wants to get petted and a 10% chance he wants to kill me.
I agree 100%