Update: $100-500 Fine for Dogs in Ball Fields

Beginning March 29, dog owners will be issued a warning or a fine for bringing their pooches onto any playing field in Sierra Madre. This includes Dapper Field, Heasley Field and T-ball field. Service and police dogs are exempt.

Update: Offenders could be issued a warning, or a $100 fine for a first-time offense. A second-time offense could get a citation of $250, and a third offense could see a citation of $500. These are the numbers for all Administrative Citation Fines in Sierra Madre.

Officers enforcing the ordinance will be asked to use their discretion as to whether to fine a first-time offender, or simply issue them a warning.

The ordinance was proposed by the Community Services Commission, who have had a problem maintaining the fields due to dogs defecating, urinating and digging.

Residents who spoke at the meeting were largely in favor of the ordinance.

“It’s primarily in the morning and evening and weekends,” said John Dapper, President of the Sierra Madre Pony Club, in regards to people bringing their dogs onto the park playing fields. “Those times are the most problematic. We’re just trying to do the best we can to maintain the field and make it playable for the kids.”

Dog owners are asked to use the small and large dog parks in Sierra Vista Park.

Update: Dog park fees have also been up for discussion by the City Council. There is currently a license fee that must be paid by dog owners to use the small and large dog parks in Sierra Vista Park. It's $25 a year or $5 a day, and is waived for senior citizens. The money typically goes into a fund for volunteers to maintain the park.

However, Councilmember Josh Moran proposed at the last City Council meeting that the fees be set to $0, since no volunteer group is currently maintaining the park.

The fees will be up for discussion at a future Council meeting.

Previously: