Beverly Dog Walking Warning: Keep Pups Out Of The Cemeteries

BEVERLY, MA — An increase in reports of residents walking their dogs in Beverly cemeteries is leading to added patrols to deter those pet owners from ignoring the city ordinance against letting pups roam around the gravesites.

The Beverly Animal Control Department issued a warning to residents reminding them that dogs are prohibited from city cemeteries at all times and that the ordinance barring four-legged friends is posted at the entrance of each cemetery.

"Cemeteries are not for dogs and as a result are not a good place to walk your dogs," Beverly Animal Control said in a message to the public on Tuesday. "Please respect those laid to rest in these locations and their families by abiding by this rule and finding an appropriate location to walk your dogs."

Service dogs are exempt from the prohibition.

Beverly Animal Control said violations will be enforced in the upcoming weeks with fines of up to $100 per dog per offense.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)