Stratford Police Issue Dog Leash Reminder As Complaints Increase

STRATFORD, CT — In response to recent complaints regarding dogs not being kept on leashes, police are reminding residents of the town’s leash ordinance.

Police said they’ve been receiving complaints about dogs not being kept on a leash throughout town, specifically in town parks, on the trails at Roosevelt Forest, and at the beaches.

“As a reminder all dogs must be kept on leash when not on their own property,” police wrote in a post on Facebook. “Failure to do so can result in fines.”

The full town ordinance is below:

§ 83-15 Leash required; removal of feces; violations and penalties.

No owner or keeper of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall allow such dog to roam at large upon the land of another and not under the control, by leash or similar restraint, of the owner or keeper or agent of such owner or keeper, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit the legal use of hunting dogs during the open hunting or training season. The unauthorized presence of any dog on the land of any person other than the owner or keeper of such dog or any portion of a public highway, street or sidewalk or any other Town property when not under the control, by leash or similar restraint, of the owner or keeper, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this article. Any person who violates this article shall pay a fine of $25 for the first offense and $50 for the second offense, and for any subsequent offense, the same shall be a misdemeanor in violation of C.G.S. § 22-363, Nuisance, and a court appearance would be required.

• A. If any domesticated animal shall defecate upon any property or area whether such property is owned by the Town of Stratford or is privately owned, the owner, keeper or person then walking or otherwise in charge of said animal shall immediately remove or cause to be removed from said property all feces deposited by said animal. For purposes of this subsection only, any person accompanying the animal shall be considered a keeper of the animal.
• B. Each violation of Subsection A of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $50.