Pet Enforcement Planned

By Andrew Gorosko

In response to public concerns, town officials have decided to heighten police enforcement of a town ordinance concerning the control of pet animals on public property and the proper disposal of pet waste.

Police and the town animal control officer will be conducting spot checks for compliance with that ordinance at all town-owned land and parks, including Fairfield Hills, Dickinson Park, and Treadwell Park, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said in a statement.

The enforcement project, which is slated to continue for several months, “will encourage all pet owners to abide by the leash law and the disposal of pet waste in an environmentally sound manner,” according to Chief Kehoe.

“Observed violations could be punishable [by a fine of] up to $49 for the first offense and up to $99 for offenses thereafter,” he said.

“Newtown personnel will be also re-enforcing Newtown Parks & Recreation regulations regarding the prohibition of pets at Treadwell Park and Dickinson Park, along with the prohibition of pets on all playing fields at [Fairfield Hills],” he added.

The decision to heighten pet law enforcement followed discussion among the first selectman, police, the animal control officer, the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Fairfield Hills Authority, according to the police chief.

The ordinance’s purpose is to keep public buildings and land free of unsupervised, roaming pets, and also to keep the properties free of animal waste.

The ordinance specifies that dogs, cats, household pets, or other animals are prohibited on town land unless they are controlled by a leash or other restraint. The law allows horses to travel on established bridle trails. The ordinance allows service animals such as seeing-eye dogs within public buildings. The ordinance allows the presence of animals on public property in conjunction with authorized events.

Animals on public property that are not controlled by a leash or other restraint would constitute a violation of the ordinance.

Also, people who have their pets on town property are required to remove any pet waste in an environmentally sound manner. Applicable fines are $25, $50, and $99, depending on the specifics of an incident.

The town pet control ordinance is not intended to override any Parks and Recreation Department regulations that ban pets and horses from town parks.