POLAND PARK Motion: Dogs must be on leash

Council plans to vote on the motion.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Four-legged, fur-covered, barking park dwellers soon may no longer have the free run of Poland Municipal Forest.
The forest board passed a motion late last month that would require visitors to leash their dogs in most areas of the park. The motion will need the approval of council before it can go into effect.
Since 1993, the requirements of dog owners in the woods has been summed up in one vague sentence on the back of a Poland forest brochure -- "Unfriendly dogs, unfriendly with people or other dogs, must be leashed at all times." Before 1993, there were no written regulations.
James R. Swager, chairman-elect of the forest board, said many people have become accustomed to walking their dogs in the woods without a leash. The leashless dog walking, however, has sometimes led to clashes between the dog walkers and others in the woods.
In September 2001, several dogs attacked a Poland Seminary High School student as the student jogged through the Poland Municipal Forest. The owner of those dogs was found guilty of having vicious dogs at large, fined and sentenced to 14 days in jail.
One area excluded
The motion passed by the forest board says dogs must be on a leash in all areas of the woods except the area west of Butler Trail where owners can still let their dogs run free. The previous regulation on "unfriendly dogs" will also remain part of the new regulations.
Swager said large aggressive dogs and certain breeds such as pit bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers must remain on a leash at all times.
"Basically, this is a middle way between the dog people and the nondog people," said Swager. "The dog people are good people and take care of their animals, but small children are there and sometimes get afraid."
Should village council accept the change, signs will be posted at each of the park's main entrances to make dog owners aware. Signs will also be posted in the Butler Trail area to alert other users of the woods.
Mayor Ruth Wilkes wants the village solicitor to review the motion before council votes to accept it. She said there may be liability issues with permitting dogs to run freely in a section of the woods.
"In our extremely litigious society, are we opening ourselves up more by allowing the dogs to run freely in a given area?" she asked.
jgoodwin@vindy.com