Dog Attack Causes Police To Crack Down On Leash Law
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Cracking down on dog owners. A recent dog attack near Patterson Park has prompted police to make sure pets are on a leash.
Andrea Fujii has more.
At Patterson Park, dogs often run around off-leash, but that's against the law---and now police are enforcing it.
Misha the poodle may have a permanent limp after two dogs attacked him a couple of blocks away from Patterson Park.
"He's pinned to the sidewalk and these two pit bulls are ripping his flesh. Literally ripping his flesh," said Misha's owner, Joanne Dolgow.
The other dogs' owner admits the pets got out of his fence.
"When Misha was on the table and that big cut---it broke my heart when I saw that," said Angel Perez.
This incident prompted police to hold a community meeting about off-leash animals that they say have become all too common in Southeast Baltimore.
"If you have a dog just like mine, keep him on a leash when you're taking him out in public. It's not only for the dog's safety, but for the public's safety, as well," said Anthony Guglielmi, Baltimore City Police.
In response, any person with a dog off-leash in Patterson Park is now ticketed or given a warning. Police have already issued 10 citations in the last two and a half weeks.
For the most part, dog owners at the park support enforcement.
"It makes me nervous, because while my dog is normally good with other dogs, it doesn't mean that the one running around the park isn't going to be the one who sets her off or scares her," said one dog owner.
"I mean, you can't have dogs off leashes in the park but also in Patterson Park, there is no dog park to take them to," said a dog owner.
Meanwhile, Misha's owner supports the crackdown but hopes for more.
"I can't get the scene out of my head, and I think he's traumatized, too," Dolgow said.
The two dogs that attacked Misha are at Animal Control, awaiting a hearing to determine if they'll be euthanized. The dog owner was cited.
Baltimore City Animal Control says they see about 300 vicious dog cases a year.
