$1,000 fine in Baltimore - German shepherd dog

Baltimore animal control officers have begun issuing $1,000 fines to pet owners who allow their dogs to run off leash or fail to pick up after them.

“People aren’t surprised, they are shocked,” said animal enforcement supervisor Joseph Hodge.

The fines are 10 times what they had been and raise the cost for letting a dog run off leash or failing to pick up its waste to the level of dog fighting or keeping a vicious dog.

The City Council passed the increases last year as part of a larger measure raising fines for a variety of animal control violations.

The legislation was introduced by Council members James B. Kraft, Bill Henry, William H. Cole, IV, Robert W. Curran, Sharon Green Middleton, Edward L. Reisinger and Warren Branch in February. The city health department and Envrironmental Control Board supported the bill and Mayor Sheila Dixon signed it into law in January.

Animal control officers began issuing the higher citations on April 1, Hodge said. He would not say how many of the $1,000 citations have been issued so far.

Residents who complain about the citations are being told to contact their council members. They also can appeal the fines to the Environmental Court, Hodge noted.

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$1,000 fine in Baltimore (18 replies)

Baltimore begins issuing $1,000 fines for dogs off leash

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$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Foxtrot6 on 15 April 2009 - 09:04	Foxtrot6 Posts: 28 Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:50 pm
Baltimore begins issuing $1,000 fines for dogs off leash Baltimore animal control officers have begun issuing $1,000 fines to pet owners who allow their dogs to run off leash or fail to pick up after them. “People aren’t surprised, they are shocked,” said animal enforcement supervisor Joseph Hodge. The fines are 10 times what they had been and raise the cost for letting a dog run off leash or failing to pick up its waste to the level of dog fighting or keeping a vicious dog. The City Council passed the increases last year as part of a larger measure raising fines for a variety of animal control violations. The legislation was introduced by Council members James B. Kraft, Bill Henry, William H. Cole, IV, Robert W. Curran, Sharon Green Middleton, Edward L. Reisinger and Warren Branch in February. The city health department and Envrironmental Control Board supported the bill and Mayor Sheila Dixon signed it into law in January. Animal control officers began issuing the higher citations on April 1, Hodge said. He would not say how many of the $1,000 citations have been issued so far. Residents who complain about the citations are being told to contact their council members. They also can appeal the fines to the Environmental Court, Hodge noted.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Gershep2 on 15 April 2009 - 10:04	Gershep2 Posts: 80 Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 10:00 pm
I'm sure I will be unpopular with my response, but as an ACO, I can tell you most people think that "dog laws" are a joke. Sometimes money is the only way to get people to pay attention. If dogs being at large had become a major problem, then raising the fine may have been the only way. I am in this job for the animals--not to make money for the town. Dogs who are allowed to roam at will, will eventually have their luck run out, and get killed. There is no greater pain for me than to have to bring a dead dog home to it's family. I use a graduated system in my town. I start off with a verbal warning, and attempt to educate the owners about what is required as a dog owner here, Accidents do happen (gates left open, kids not shutting the door etc) and I understand that. If it happens again, then a written warning, and a more stern talk is issued, and finally, when I am convinced that the owner is not going to get with the program, I will issue a fine. I give eveyone the chance to do the right thing before the ticket book comes out--even if it means bringing my hammer over on my day off, and helping the owner build a kennel area. Heidi

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Bob McKown on 15 April 2009 - 12:04	Bob McKown Posts: 1427 Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 03:15 pm
Doesnt sound out of line to me sounds like your bending over backwards to help.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by delacruz germanshepherds on 15 April 2009 - 12:04	delacruz germanshepherds Posts: 274 Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 01:52 pm
I think you doing it the fair way , giving the pet owners a chance , nothing wrong with it. But there are pet owners out there who don't get it or just don't care until they actually get a good hefty fine. Then the dog ends up in the pound .

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by GSDguy08 on 15 April 2009 - 13:04	GSDguy08 Posts: 421 Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2007 02:46 pm
I wish they would put that law in place here. I'm seeing more and more dogs come around our yard.....it's fenced.....but they come up to the fence barking at me, and then they go running off around the neighborhood getting into things, some have got hit by cars, but the owners just don't care. You'll see packs of dogs running around here all the time.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Okie Amazon on 15 April 2009 - 13:04	Okie Amazon Posts: 596 Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 05:50 am
In my home town, the fine isn't that large, but after a second violation, YOU get JAILED for ten days and then get probation. See very, very, few strays in Shawnee, OK, I can assure you. In OKC, however, where I live now, there are feral packs everywhere and dogs running loose all over the place.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by TessJ10 on 15 April 2009 - 14:04	TessJ10 Posts: 822 Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 03:59 pm
"as an ACO, I can tell you most people think that "dog laws" are a joke. Sometimes money is the only way to get people to pay attention. If dogs being at large had become a major problem, then raising the fine may have been the only way. I am in this job for the animals--not to make money for the town. Dogs who are allowed to roam at will, will eventually have their luck run out, and get killed." Ok, BUT, and I know this from personal experience: Who's going to get whacked with these fines? NOT the troublemakers, but the person who (and I'm not joking) has their dog off-leash to walk from their house to their car parked in front of their house and happens to be seen by an ACO who will delightedly pounce on them and write them up. Totally in control dog, happens to be off leash, WHAM - AGAINST THE LAW!!!! As for the people who don't clean up after their dogs? LOL - def. think $1,000 fine is in order.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by phoebe on 15 April 2009 - 14:04	phoebe Posts: 74 Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:26 pm
I have only vissited Baltimore, never lived there, but I would not be surprised if they have a problem with unleashed pits. They may be looking for a way to control thesse dogs without BSL. This is only a guess. They may also simply be looking to raise money, tax revenues are probably way down.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Gershep2 on 15 April 2009 - 21:04	Gershep2 Posts: 80 Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 10:00 pm
First of all, in answer to JessJ10's comments, no, I would not cite anyone walking their dog to their car from their house. There is such a thing as being reasonable. I was an ACO in MA before coming here to Maine. While there may be some ACO's who look for ways to rack up the citations, I have never know any. If the owner is right there with the dog, and the dog is under their control, the most they will hear from me is "nice dog". I am talking about the dogs out roaming with no owner anywhere near. There is a big difference. Just today, I got called out to Bowdoin College because there was a boxer running around the parking lot barking at everyone. I picked up the dog, and drove around the area for 30 minutes to try and locate the owner--dog had no collar/tags on. I finally found 2 adults walking around with a leash in their hands. Yes, it was their dog, and they had been looking for him for over an hour. I suggested that they need to do more obedience work with the dog before letting it play off leash in an open area. Their reply was, "our dog is completely under our control." Then why were they looking for him for over an hour? I then said that under their control should include coming when called, and they said that he does. They didn't get it and they never will. Just like some parents are with their children, some dog owners are the same==my child/dog is perfect. The other excuse that I hate is "oh but my dog is the friendliest dog you could ever meet." I could go on and on. Don't knock ACO's. We take alot of crap, get paid crap, and if we do the job right, people are going to complain.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by cledford on 16 April 2009 - 02:04	cledford Posts: 370 Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 06:00 am
I'm all for it. I hate people who allow their dogs t orun off leash up to me or my dogs, eat my food off the track or fail to pick up after their dogs. -Calvin

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by jbaker1980 on 14 May 2009 - 12:05	jbaker1980 Posts: 72 Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 03:55 am
this would be good in ky. were the old lady around the block lets her lab poop in everybodys yard. And she has a fenced in yard guess she does not want to clean up after her dog.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Foxtrot6 on 17 April 2009 - 09:04	Foxtrot6 Posts: 28 Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:50 pm
Baltimore has a huge problem with dog fighting. I think that was the reason for this law, not for regular pet owners. After lots of backlash there is talk of rewriting the law to delay the $1,000 to the 3rd offence. It seems there is a shortage of dog parks in the city.

The City backs down by Foxtrot6 on 14 May 2009 - 01:05	Foxtrot6 Posts: 28 Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:50 pm
After a hearing that lasted more than three hours, drew about 50 people and was dominated by those who wanted the fine lowered, the council's legislative committee voted to change the leash law's $1,000 fine to a staggered penalty system. First offenders would pay $200, and those caught the second and third times would pay $400 and then $600. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.to.leash13may13,0,962676.story

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by olskoolgsds on 14 May 2009 - 02:05	olskoolgsds Posts: 659 Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 04:05 am
Gershep2, The problem I have is that the law refers to an owner that allows a dog to run off leash. Typically what happens on this site and in politics in general is that things are taken out of context, as I believe you did in this instance. You use the language, "running at large, and dogs that are allowed to roam at will." This is a far cry from an owner allowing his dog to run off leash. The latter implies a person such as myself, doing obedience in town, then doing some off lead heeling or fetch. Huge difference. The problem with all of this is that many that do not know dogs are making policy using the scenerios and language that you used, making things sound much worse than it really is. As a child, I saw dogs everywhere I went, "roaming" around as you put it. Getting into trash, scaring people etc. etc. Today, I cannot remember the last dog I saw roaming around. Look around and tell me where all these dogs are. In my travels, I do not see this as a problem. Now you bring in a law that is absalute. So us responsible people that enjoy taking our dogs in public for socializing and distractions while doing obedience are now out laws, facing huge fines for adding to this huge problem that in reality, we don't have. This IMO is about $$$ and control. You mentioned that you are a considerate person that gives people the benifit of the doubt, that you "warn them", and if this does not work then you up the anti. I am going to take you at your word and believe you do just that. But, that is not what the law says. It also leaves it up to the officer to do his job of enforcing these laws. In other words, we, John Doe tax payer, responsible person, has no guarantee that his off lead heel will not cost him $ 1k. I do not mean to be harsh with you personally, but this is exactly why we have so many b.s. laws dictating what, when, where, how I am to deal with my own dogs. We like to use hyperbole, exagerate the needs, blow up isolated incidents as though they were the norm, use language that implies something more than it is, then pass laws that are written in such a manner as to take individual rights away. I have dealt with angry animal control people that were unreasonable, over the top, threatening and on and on. So IF laws are to be passed, then at least right them more reasonably, looking out for everyone, not just those that like to right new laws.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by olskoolgsds on 14 May 2009 - 02:05	olskoolgsds Posts: 659 Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 04:05 am
One last thought. Most folks do not see these laws through. We, as a people, seem to only be able to see something that is right in front of us, unable to look down the road and see the bigger picture and the problems that will follow. I read a few of the posts on this and some are concerned about dogs running by their yards, or dogs running up to them. Unfortunately, the people that allow their dogs to do this will continue to do so. Why? Because they are irresponsible. No law is going to change this, or at least it will have little effect. Irresponsible people stay irresponsible regardless of consequenses. This is what makes them irresponsible, they do not learn. The folks that are hurt by these laws are the responsible people that have well trained dogs that they keep control over. I guess we are doomed to continue to pass such laws as we are unable to see how futile they are.

$1,000 fine in Baltimore by Gershep2 on 15 May 2009 - 09:05	Gershep2 Posts: 80 Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 10:00 pm
Olsk, Yes, it was a true statement. It kills me to have to bring a dead pet home to someone. You don't know me at all. I put my heart into my job, and do it to help the animals and educate the public. It's not emotional blather. Do you want to know how many problems I have seen with owners having their dogs off lead doing training/socializing? Many owners feel that their dog is under their voice control, but when put to the test, they were really not ready for that step. I have seen dogs bolt across roads and get killed by traffic while trying to get at something all while being under the owners control. I've seen many dogs under the control of their owner, break command and attack other dogs or chase down running kids or joggers. I know there are some great owners out there who do the right thing, but too often, the owners think they know more than they do, and think their dogs are perfect. How many times have I heard, "But my dog never did that before." or "My dog would never do that." There are areas in my town where dogs are allowed off leash for training etc. but I do more bite reports there than any other area. I do my job for the animals, not to get $$ out of the owners.