ohmidog!

As they periodically do, Baltimore animal control officers and city police have cracked down on unleashed dogs — this time at Mount Vernon Square near the Washington Monument this week.

Bob Anderson, director of Baltimore Animal Control, estimated fewer than 10 dog walkers have been cited in the past three days for failing to have their dogs on leash.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the sweeps followed citizen complaints about dogs bothering people in the park.

Failing to have a dog on the leash can result in a $100 fine for the first offense and a $1,000 fine for repeat offenders. Those fines are set to go up soon, Anderson said.

City law requires dogs to be on a leash when not on their owner’s property. For my experiences with the law, you can click here.

According to the Sun, Anderson pointed out that dog owners have the option of using “the city’s dog parks” to let their pets run off leash.

In reality, the city of Baltimore has only one dog park, in Canton, though the city has promised to add more – with the first of them opening later this year in Latrobe Park in Locust Point. 

In all the city parks, as they now exist, leash laws apply — and with the weather warming up, expect crackdowns soon at a park near you.