A proposal to increase fines in Denver for failing to keep dogs on a leash got a chilly reception from City Council members Tuesday.
The city’s Department of Environmental Health wants to raise fines from $50 to $100 for a first violation and from $75 to $300 for a second violation. A third violation would jump from $75 to a $500 fine.
The proposed overhaul also would affect fines for failing to license a dog or cat and for failing to have pets spayed or neutered.
Sherry Purdy, deputy manager of environmental health, said the agency decided to push to increase fines because animal-control officers were seeing a surge in such violations.
“Until there is a significant-enough change in the law, we don’t think we’ll see a significant change in behavior,” she said.
Council members raised a host of concerns during a Tuesday committee meeting.
Council president Jeanne Robb said the suggested fines seemed steep considering the numerous complaints dog owners have lodged over a lack of designated off-leash play areas for their pets.
She said a task force should first find ways to increase off-leash areas in the city before steeper fines are imposed.
Councilwoman Carla Madison said the agency should consider looking to Boulder, which permits a dog to remain off leash if its owner can control it with voice commands.
“I would like to see us reward people who train their dogs,” Madison said. “If a dog heels, I don’t know why it shouldn’t be allowed to walk off leash.”
Department officials agreed to continue researching the fine proposal and bring it back to the council committee for further discussion. A board that sets policy for the agency will have the final say on fines.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
