Police Giving Pet Control Ordinance Some Bite

By Kendra Bobowick

Watch your step. Dog owners are warned: pick up after your pups, and keep your pets on a leash. Failure to comply could cost you $49, confirmed Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe. The second offense is $92. He reminded: “Some people might be afraid [of dogs] and other areas have a lot of children.” The parks are for everybody, he said.

Both the Parks and Recreation Department and the Fairfield Hills Authority members have been hearing complaints, especially since the nicer spring weather has brought trailgoers — dogs too — out for a stroll on town trails, including newer places to walk near Dickinson Park and at Fairfield Hills.

Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold Tuesday held a piece of correspondence in her hands as she faced her commission. Relaying one part of the complaint, she indicated that a hiker had stated, “I don’t want dogs coming up to me while I am walking.” The correspondence also stressed, “Please enforce the no dogs rule.” Dogs are not allowed on the Dickinson Park trails or other town property — Fairfield Hills excluded. Newtown’s Pet Control Ordinance states: “No person shall bring into, permit, have or keep on town property any dog, cat, household pet, or other animal.” Although several exceptions apply, pets are not supposed to be on town property.

The ordinance states its purpose: “To keep the public buildings and other town-owned properties free of unsupervised or roaming pets and clean of animal waste…”

Ms Mangold noted this week, “People are getting frustrated. We want people to be aware of the rules and regulations.”

A day later the subject arose — not for the first time — at the Fairfield Hills Authority. Maria DeMarco of DeMarco Management, which provides security for the former state hospital grounds, also noted problems. Dogs might be off leash, and owners, although picking up after their pets, are leaving the bags of waste on campus. She has seen this problem before.

“The best thing to do is enforce [the ordinance],” she said. Once penalties are imposed, she said, “Word gets around.” The authority is considering handing out reminders via Ms DeMarco’s security patrol, which will also contact the police for violations. Police officers and the animal control staff will keep watch. “We are ramping up our observation of people on the campus,” Chief Kehoe said Thursday. Officers on bicycle will take time this summer to make their rounds at Fairfield Hills.

Primarily, the town officials and board members are asking for courtesy. Keep pets leashed, and clean up (and take with you) anything they may leave behind.