Dog Owners Prepare for New Willard's Woods Leash Regulations

Willard's Woods, Lexington's historic 100-acre conservation area, has become a favorite location for dogs and dog owners alike over the years. However, at times, the popular dog spot has been known to make visitors without dogs feel uncomfortable and fearful of their safety.

Due to the increasing complaints and reports of user conflicts involving people with dogs, people without dogs, and people with dogs on- and off-leash, it became necessary for the Conservation Commission to take serious action, said Conservation Assistant Emily Schadler.

"The number of people there with dogs off-leash was increasing and getting so large, people felt intimated to go out there if they weren't going for the purpose of taking dogs off-leash, especially on weekends," said Schadler.

As of Sept. 1, the following dog-related regulations, voted on by the Conservation Commission June 22, will go into effect for six months:

• Dogs must be on leash on Saturdays and Sundays at all times and at all locations at Willard's Woods.
• Dogs may be walked off leash on weekdays, but they must remain under the immediate restraint and control of their walker, either by leash or voice command, as required by the Town of Lexington by-law.
• No more than three dogs per person are permitted.
• Dog walkers must pick up and properly dispose of their dog's waste.

According to Karen Mullins, conservation administrator, violators will be fined $100 for the first offense, $150 for the second and third offenses and $200 for fourth and subsequent offenses.

"The Police Department and Conservation Commission will be monitoring Willard's Woods, including on the weekends, to educate the public and enforce the new and existing regulations," said Mullins.

"It is the hope there will be cooperation by all through education to prevent the need to issue fines or make additional regulation changes," she said.

The commission will revisit the new regulations within six months to determine if possible changes, including the feasibility of a permit system, are needed, Mullins said.

Lexington Resident Bernard Gunther, who served as a member of the Conservation Commission sub-committee advisory group to help define the core issues and provide suggestions and feedback on possible solutions, does not believe the new regulations will solve the problem.

"People change their behavior when they go to Willard's Woods because of people with dogs," said Gunther.

He said he has been chased, bit and growled at by dogs, and yelled at by owners, and thinks a better solution would be shutting Willard's Woods down for a period of time to change people's behavior.

"I think the Conservation Commission needs to do more," said Gunther.

Then, when you open it up again, people will take it seriously and treat it better, he said.

Friends of Willard's Woods member Leslie Goldberg, a Lexington resident and avid dog walker, also served on the Conservation Commission sub-committee advisory group and she she does not think any regulations are warranted.

"I think there are occasionally dogs who may not listen," she said. "I think that's always going to be the case."

"Some of the claims by people who don't want the dogs there are completely unfounded," she continued.

However, she said the Friends of Willard's Woods are encouraging people to follow the regulations. "It's not in our best interest to have a mutiny," she said.

She thinks a better solution would be to have a permit system in place, requiring dog owners to purchase a permit to have a dog off leash.

"A dog is like a kid. It needs time and room to run and socialize with other dogs, especially young dogs; that's how they learn to socialize," she said. "A dog that's been on a leash and isolated all its life is more likely to be aggressive.

For more information about the new regulations, visit www.lexingtonma.gov/conservation/conland.cfm or contact the Conservation Division at 781-862-0500, ext. 226.

Violations to the regulations should be reported to the Police Department at 781-862-1212.

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