The popular Greenwich Connections group on Facebook has recently been blowing up with comments about the situation with off-leash dogs in town parks – particularly at Tod’s Point.
Again.
Starting December 1, residents and non-residents alike are allowed to bring their dogs to Tod’s Point. “Dog season” runs through March.
In CT, municipalities can create their own ordinances about dogs and leashes, and Greenwich has one.
Tod’s Point
Greenwich’s ordinance, 7-25 is posted at Tod’s Point:
“All dogs must remain on a secure leash less than 10 feet in length in the hands of an adult throughout the park.”
Last February when we wrote about this very subject, Greenwich animal control officer Suzanne Carlin confirmed said dogs must be leashed throughout Tod’s Point park – the only exception being below the high tide line, which is considered part of Long Island Sound, and only if the dog is under its owner’s control.
Georgie at Tod’s Point. Feb 2023
Animal Control officers, part of the Greenwich Police Dept, are tasked with enforcement.
But they are stretched. There are only two Animal Control officers. Eight days out of the month they are both on duty and share one van.
“We do our best to patrol,” Carlin said when we interviewed her lat February. “We do go down (to Tod’s Point) to do enforcement. Police do patrol as well. Some people thank us for being there and others are annoyed.”
Two weeks ago, in a long thread of comments on the Greenwich Connections Facebook about an incident, First Selectman Fred Camillo said people get confused about the state law versus the town ordinance.
“If you go to every town park, you’ll see dogs running loose int he field and not bothering anybody, and that’s what I do with my dogs, but when I see other dogs and people coming there, they immediately go on their leashes. That is why I have leashes with me all the time,” Camillo wrote.
This Friday morning, in the First Selectman’s “Community Connections from Fred” e-blast he brought up the topic again.
“For me personally, one of my favorite things to do in the winter is take my dogs out to Tod’s Point for walks around the park’s perimeter and I know a lot of people feel the same way. When I am out there, I make sure to always bring a leash for both of my dogs so when I see somebody coming towards me, especially when they have another dog, I can put the leashes on.”
That immediately resulted in another Facebook post and dozens of comments questioning what the rules are for dogs at Tod’s Point.
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, filling in for Camillo on his Friday morning radio show, ‘Ask the First’ on WGCH received a call from a resident who was confused by Camillo’s e-blast.
“It seems not to be consistent with the (town) ordinance,” the caller said.
Ms. Rabin said off-leash dogs have been a challenge to enforce.
“People do take their animals off leash in public spaces. I think the thought was to do the right thing, and maybe if no one is around and you don’t get caught – Yeah for you – but you should have your dog on a leash,” she said.
The caller asked if the police would enforce the ordinance at Tod’s Point.
“They will, they will,” Rabin said. “I think they’ll say something first. I don’t know if they’re issuing tickets. You’ll probably get a warning.”
Within a couple hours there were dozens more comments on Facebook.
Residents who visit Tod’s Point in “dog season” – with or without dogs – are questioning what are the rules about dogs and leashes at Tod’s Point, and describe it as a quality of life issue.
State Law
A Connecticut statute (Sec. 22-364) https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_435.htm#sec_22-364 says it is illegal to allow a dog to roam, but it does not specifically state a leash is necessary.
It states, “No owner or keeper of any dog shall allow such dog to roam at large upon the land of another and not under the control of the owner or keeper.”
So why is it that Greenwich, which prizes its local control (Think 8-30g and the recent Board of Health repeal of the Noise Ordinance) has confusion about the intersection of state law and the local ordinance when it comes to leashing dogs in parks?