When he takes his dog Sam to Schiller Park in German Village, Brad Ostroff usually has him off leash.
And yes, he’s seen the new signs that say animal owners must have their pets “securely leashed or under direct control at all times.”
“I just think people are going to do what they are going to do. I don’t think the sign is going to have any effect,” said Ostroff, 63. “Most of the dogs at Schiller are off leash.”
Columbus officials decided to place the signs after hearing reports of larger dogs causing problems, particularly with children and older people, said Jeff McNealey, the vice president of the city’s Recreation and Parks Commission.
“We heard about some nips,” McNealey said.
But it was more than that — McNealey told the commission that an unleashed dog at Schiller Park ran across a street and killed a cat on the front porch of a house. Another unleashed dog there attacked a small dog in a backyard.
McNealey, a German Village resident, told the commission earlier this year that it was time to move forward on an administrative rule adopted in 2006 that requires owners to keep dogs in parks under direct control and on a leash, said parks spokeswoman Terri Leist.
That rule was to go into effect a month after the city opened its four dog parks in 2012.
“With the dog parks around, we’re aligning our park policy with the general city ordinances,” McNealey said.
According to Columbus city code, owners cannot allow their animals on someone else’s property when they are not securely leashed or under direct control.
The signs in the parks say, “Owner shall have animal securely leashed or under direct control at all times. Direct control means the animal will come, sit and stay on command from the owner.”
It’s the “direct control” part that Greg Maynard of the Friends of Goodale Park calls a loophole because it’s hard to enforce. He said the city needs a leash law, and that the Columbus City Council is ducking the issue.
Those who don’t obey the current law can be charged with a third-degree misdemeanor for allowing their dogs to run without a leash or under direct control. That carries a maximum 60-day jail sentence and $500 fine. If the dog harms someone, the owner can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor — a 180-day maximum sentence and $1,000 fine.
The city’s Recreation and Parks Department started putting up signs in September at Antrim, Berliner, Cooke, Goodale, Schiller, Westgate, Whetstone and Woodward parks.
“It’s an education campaign right now, but with the police and neighbors,” McNealey said.
Maynard said he doubts anyone is paying attention.
“Nothing’s going to happen. It’s another empty gesture,” Maynard said.
“Dogs off leash make it difficult for other people to use the park without feeling threatened or inconvenienced, particularly in Goodale Park,” said Maynard, a University District resident.
Earlier this week at Whetstone Park in Clintonville, Bill Vickers’ Shetland sheepdog, Juliet, was walking off leash.
“We do this just about every day,” said Vickers, 50, of the Northwest Side.
At Schiller Park, Scott Ulrich was walking his pit bull Lincoln on a leash but said he and his friends regularly let their dogs run off leash there on weeknights.
“(It’s) an unofficial dog park, and it’s fine,” said Ulrich, 27, of German Village.
mferenchik@dispatch.com
@MarkFerenchik