Leash Law

08-10-20
Hello! I want to remind our dog owners and walkers that there is a leash law in
New Marlborough! You may reference it in our 2018 town bylaws section
17.1 and 17.2. Here is an excerpt from it.
17.1 “No owner or keeper of a dog shall permit such dog, whether
licensed or unlicensed, to run-at large within the town.”
and
17.2 “The Animal Control Officer shall enforce the provisions of this
bylaw. Violators of the bylaw shall be fined twenty-five dollars for the first
offense and thirty-five for the second and each subsequent offense.”
The reason I am sending out this information, is that, in the past one
could take their dog out and let him off leash and never see anyone. It was
still in violation, but there were no consequences, as you were alone. That
is not the case these days. Even in New Marlborough, there are more
people in the woods and on trails then ever.
This law is not about YOU, or YOUR dog, as much as it is about being
courteous and thoughtful for other people. Some people do not like dogs!
Some people are AFRAID of dogs! Other people have aggressive dogs
and if your dog approaches them, YOUR dog will get bit. Some people
have small children that they don’t want to get jumped on.
Please, if for some reason your dog gets away from you, and someone
asks you to put your dog on a leash, remember this; most likely the person
asking you to put your dog on a leash is not being bossy or judging you.
They might have a small child, a smaller dog, or a fear. They might have a
perfectly nice to humans dog, but it may be dog aggressive. This person
might be protecting YOU when they ask for you to put your sweet dog on a
leash. Please be nice, and please keep your dog on a leash.
Umpachene Falls and The New Marlborough Preserves will be two of
the first places I will start patrolling. Yes, because I am getting complaints.
Please spread the word!
Thank you for reading this and your consideration to this matter!
Best Regards,
Cassie Keeley