Together with YOUR help, we can make our neighborhoods safer for our families, kids, and pets. How do we do that? Dog owners have an obligation to care and keep safe: the dog, their families, and their neighborhood. Owning a dog is a privilege and should not be taken lightly. There are laws that outline your responsibilities as a dog owning citizen. All of the laws apply – you don’t get to choose which ones you will follow. The laws are in place to protect you, other families, other animals, and the community as a whole. Let’s talk dog bite prevention via leash laws, spay and neuter compliance, and dog bite statistics.
DALLAS HAS A LEASH LAW. It is illegal to walk your dog around the neighborhood, at a City park, or any other public place (unless in an off-leash dog park) without a leash. This is serious. Regardless of how well trained your dog is or how friendly it is, the rest of us have a right to walk around with our kids, pets, and grandmas without having to encounter your loose dog.
Be a good respectful neighbor and leash your dog. This includes not “just letting the dog out for a few minute to go potty”. If your dog is outside of your fence, it needs to be on a leash. Please, for the safety and quality of life of all, abide by the law.
If your neighbor walks their dog without a leash or lets their dog out off leash, please, feel free to let them know that in response to the mauling of a Dallas woman last month, Dallas Animal Services (DAS) will be cracking down on violators. Politely and respectfully expect compliance from your neighbors – you never know what kind of unforeseen event you could be preventing by asking them to follow the law.
The best way to start the conversation is neighbor to neighbor via a supportive, non judgmental, non confrontation conversation. But If a neighbor needs a nudge from DAS to help get in compliance, you can call 311 to request an “educational compliance check. ” DAS officers will come out and explain the law and explain the consequences of not following the law. If the dog owner will not comply with the law, DAS can write them a ticket.
SPAY AND NEUTER COMPLIANCE – it’s the law. In additional to expecting leash law compliance and reporting violators, here is another thing to get serious about: spay and neuter compliance. It’s all about our safety and quality of life. If someone can’t afford to get into compliance, there are lots of low and no cost resources available.
• Why is this so important? District 1 is #2 out of 14 Districts for dog bites per square mile. Our district is a hot mess of loose dogs and dog bites. WE the community can elevate the animal culture and help turn the tide on those statistics.
• Dallas is #3 in the United States Postal Service’s dog bite rankings. Our City is #9 in population, but #3 for dog bites against mail carriers. We have a BIG problem!
• Dog bites are up 50% citywide over last year and a woman was mauled to death by a pack of loose dog. It’s time to get serious.
• 62% of all dog bites in Dallas happen within a ½ mile of a school.
• According to national insurance data, the average dog bites costs $32,000.
• 100% of all loose dogs are a danger to the community
• One (1) loose intact dog can be responsible for more than 600 dogs new dogs over three (3) years. Often street dogs and loose owned dogs hook up for a night of love and leave litters of puppies on our park grounds, schools, and under houses. Spay and neuter compliance is a big part of getting this trend under control.
• Our surveys show approximate 90% of all dogs that hit the shelter are intact. That is because intact dogs are escape artist who feel the urge to get out and go looking for love.
• 83% of INTACT companion animals in South Dallas live in poverty – the City needs to step up and get serious about low and no cost resources in South Dallas.
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FILLED WITH AMAZING PEOPLE AND PETS. Thank you for caring about your community and the safety and quality of life of our residents and our companion animals. Together, we can elevate the City’s animal culture and make our neighborhoods safer for all.
For more tips on how to keep your family safe and follow good dog bite prevention in your house with your family, info on dogs that needs space, and more training information, click this link.