Vicki, a ward one voter, asks:
I would be interested in knowing what your plan is to deal with the … dog owners who continue to allow their dogs to wander off leash; both attended and unattended. In addition the …animal control department that continues to allow repeat offenders … with no resolution. Thanks for your time.

Thanks for the question, Vicki.

Ward One loves dogs. That’s a pretty uncontroversial statement. I know we love dogs because I’ve upset the majority of them the past couple months while door-knocking. Even when you aren’t home, your dogs have made me feel completely unwelcome, despite what your welcome mats convey. ;)

~Before I was brushing Maddy’s and Ellie’s hair, I was brushing Billy’s hair. He was the best. Miss ya, Buddy.

Our love of dogs is what makes this a sensitive issue. Dogs love to roam free. Many people have highly-trained and behaved dogs that can handle going off-leash in public. They are friendly, they are outgoing, and many owners want to let their dogs frolic freely. Unfortunately, it is against the law for very good reasons. Just because your dog is friendly and capable of freely interacting with other dogs, kids, and people, doesn’t mean that the dogs, kids and people on the other side of the meeting can handle such interactions.

As an example, for a rescue dog with a sad past, an unrestrained dog running towards them can be a nightmare. Their instinct to run or fight can turn the situation tragic. They may feel like they need to protect their owner, they may run into the street, they may pull their owner down.

Many children and adults are comfortable and experienced around dogs of all sizes and types, but so many are not. For those who have a fear of dogs, an unrestrained dog approaching them can also trigger unfortunate reactions and traumatic feelings.

When you add the fact that unleashed dogs leave waste behind (whether noticed or unnoticed) that is often not retrieved by the responsible human, it is clear why the ordinance is what it is: dogs need to be leashed.

Quincy has been slow to develop dog parks, and, if on the City Council, I would vote in favor of establishing and expediting dog parks. I would like to see more than just the one being proposed in conjunction with the new animal shelter. I want our dogs who can run off-leash to enjoy their time to run, and I want our dogs who need to be shielded from those interactions to also enjoy their outdoor time. And I want the owners of both sets to relax during dog-time without stress or fear. To that end, I would also work with animal control and QPD to properly enforce the established ordinances now.
~thanks