Higher Fines Possible For Dog Owners Who Break Rules At Darien's Great Island

DARIEN, CT — To promote good behavior, higher fines could be implemented for dog owners who violate the rules at Darien's Great Island.

Currently, police or the town's newly-hired animal control officer can issue citations of $25 for violations of the town's existing ordinance that required dogs to remain on-leash on public property.

Dogs are allowed at Great Island for a trial period through March 31, but they must remain leashed and on Great Island's paved roads.

Additionally, dogs are not allowed on the island's bridle path, which is closed through July 15 to protect two bald eagles who nest in the area.

According to GIAC Chair and Selectman Monica McNally, cameras set up on Great Island captured 38 dogs between Dec. 27, 2024, and Jan. 26 in the bridle path area, 11 of them off-leash. Two cars and a bike were also spotted in the area.

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 12, four dogs were seen on the island, three of them 0ff-leash. Since signs were put up to restrict access near where the eagles nest, 11 people were seen disregarding the signage and walking in the area, McNally said.

Members of the Great Island Advisory Committee (GIAC) believe increased enforcement and increased monetary penalties could promote better behavior and conformity to the rules.

"One thing we can consider is changing the dollar amount," McNally said. "At this point, the animal control officer can issue a citation right now. I think, if everybody agrees, I think having the animal control officer down, especially in that area as much as possible right now, is a great idea."

No action was taking during the GIAC's last meeting on Feb. 13, which is available to watch on Darien TV79.

Town Administrator Jennifer Charneski said the GIAC would have to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for a fine increase. The selectmen would then have to put forward an ordinance change that would need to be approved before it ultimately went to the Representative Town Meeting for consideration.

The members did not discuss what a new fine could look like. Capt. Alison Hudyma noted that the $25 fine really equals $49 when factoring in additional state fees.

Beka Sturges, principal for Reed Hilderbrand, the landscape architecture firm working with Darien on the Great Island vision and master plans, said having consistent signage at the property would be beneficial.

"I think something that seems to be true is that there are a lot of people who don't read the signs that are on the island. I think one of the things we'd advise is if we can get slightly more consistent signage practices going forward, which I think we're likely to do as part of the master plan, and then have a really clear process for any time there's a change in policy and making sure it's updated across everything," Sturges said.

"Our sense is that if we could just update the regulation for dogs to say, 'Dogs are welcome on the island on paths, on-leash, and they're not permitted on the bridle trail,' that that would be quite straightforward, and something as simple as that would be consistent with the language a lot of parks use," Sturges added.

Parks and Recreation Commission Chair and GIAC member Lorene Bora disagreed that people are not reading the signage.

"I'm not sure it's that people don't know the rules. I believe more they do know the rules and they just don't follow them. That's just been our experience in the parks and I think it's spilling over to Great Island," Bora said. "We've got a new animal control officer, so it's a great time to say, 'Ok, new person, and we mean business about that.'"

McNally reiterated the GIAC has different options it can pursue, from modifying the existing policy and raising fines, to even going back to a no-dogs policy on Great Island if necessary.

You can watch the full GIAC meeting on Darien TV79.