Dog shot at Houston Dog Park

[steveincowtown]

The last thing she expected was the other woman to get her gun back.

"We can't have that kind of lawlessness in our public parks," said the woman who illegally had her dog off-leash in a public park.

Fixed it for them. Somehow they missed the irony.

To be clear, I don't think it's open season on illegally unleashed dogs, but those laws exist for a reason and choosing to disobey them is asking for trouble. I don't mind off-leash dogs who are fully under their owners' control, but that's not what I'm seeing here -- and regardless of my personal opinion, it's still illegal. I've known dogs well enough trained to heel right at their owner's side without a leash being necessary. But most dogs I see, especially large ones, aren't even under control when on a leash. And obviously this one wasn't that well trained, if the owner was afraid to walk down the stairs while holding the leash.

I noticed the same thing (though your method of drawing attention is far better than mine).

I thought "the only lawlessness was you letting your dog run unleashed".

The Dog Park is made for (legal) off leash play.

[EEllis]

The last thing she expected was the other woman to get her gun back.

"We can't have that kind of lawlessness in our public parks," said the woman who illegally had her dog off-leash in a public park.

Fixed it for them. Somehow they missed the irony.

To be clear, I don't think it's open season on illegally unleashed dogs, but those laws exist for a reason and choosing to disobey them is asking for trouble. I don't mind off-leash dogs who are fully under their owners' control, but that's not what I'm seeing here -- and regardless of my personal opinion, it's still illegal. I've known dogs well enough trained to heel right at their owner's side without a leash being necessary. But most dogs I see, especially large ones, aren't even under control when on a leash. And obviously this one wasn't that well trained, if the owner was afraid to walk down the stairs while holding the leash.

I noticed the same thing (though your method of drawing attention is far better than mine).

I thought "the only lawlessness was you letting your dog run unleashed".

The Dog Park is made for (legal) off leash play.

That park in particular? Because it sure looks multi use and has an open space for a gate which should make it a no go for leach free. Heck the woman even said that she knew she should have the dog on a leash.

[TVGuy]

I think both of the women were nuts. The one they interviewed sounds crazy.

As for the park, looks like a regular park to me. It's confusing because the anchor mentions another incident about a dog park shooting just before going into this (different) story.

[Teamless]

The park in question where the shooting took place, is the park which I have gone to for nearly 6 years.

it is an OFF LEASH dog park
fully fenced in with double gates, so you can unleash/releash your dog in a confined area.

[MotherBear]

The last thing she expected was the other woman to get her gun back.

"We can't have that kind of lawlessness in our public parks," said the woman who illegally had her dog off-leash in a public park.

Fixed it for them. Somehow they missed the irony.

To be clear, I don't think it's open season on illegally unleashed dogs, but those laws exist for a reason and choosing to disobey them is asking for trouble. I don't mind off-leash dogs who are fully under their owners' control, but that's not what I'm seeing here -- and regardless of my personal opinion, it's still illegal. I've known dogs well enough trained to heel right at their owner's side without a leash being necessary. But most dogs I see, especially large ones, aren't even under control when on a leash. And obviously this one wasn't that well trained, if the owner was afraid to walk down the stairs while holding the leash.

I noticed the same thing (though your method of drawing attention is far better than mine).

I thought "the only lawlessness was you letting your dog run unleashed".

The Dog Park is made for (legal) off leash play.

I think there are two separate incidents under discussion here. One took place in the dog park, but the one I was referring to appears to have been in a municipal park, not a dog park. Here's the information on the park mentioned in the story: http://www.missouricitytx.gov/index.aspx?NID=498" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Additionally, the city's website (http://www.missouricitytx.gov/index.aspx?nid=92" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) states, "There is no park within the Missouri City city limits that permits dogs to run at large."

[suthdj]

The park in question where the shooting took place, is the park which I have gone to for nearly 6 years.

it is an OFF LEASH dog park
fully fenced in with double gates, so you can unleash/releash your dog in a confined area.

Follow me on this and anyone can answer, but isn't there a state leash law and wouldn't that negate an "off leash park" allowance for it(public park) or are local rules allowed for this?

[EEllis]

The park in question where the shooting took place, is the park which I have gone to for nearly 6 years.

it is an OFF LEASH dog park
fully fenced in with double gates, so you can unleash/releash your dog in a confined area.

Follow me on this and anyone can answer, but isn't there a state leash law and wouldn't that negate an "off leash park" allowance for it(public park) or are local rules allowed for this?

Well since the dog parks I've seen are totally enclosed the dogs are not really running free. While legally it may or may not comply with the law but who really cares. There is a time to be by the book and a time to say close enough.

[Teamless]

Follow me on this and anyone can answer, but isn't there a state leash law and wouldn't that negate an "off leash park" allowance for it(public park) or are local rules allowed for this?

Yes, there is a leash law for dogs walking openly in public,
However, this location is designated as a dog park.
Fully fenced and not open to the public areas - meaning - a dog cant go to the non-dog park area, without traversing 2 gates or climbing a 6 foot fence. thus no need for leash.
Just like the dog in your back yard can be off leash.

[suthdj]

Follow me on this and anyone can answer, but isn't there a state leash law and wouldn't that negate an "off leash park" allowance for it(public park) or are local rules allowed for this?

Yes, there is a leash law for dogs walking openly in public,
However, this location is designated as a dog park.
Fully fenced and not open to the public areas - meaning - a dog cant go to the non-dog park area, without traversing 2 gates or climbing a 6 foot fence. thus no need for leash.
Just like the dog in your back yard can be off leash.

Except in a public park an unleashed dog is not under your control, right. I understand the concept it is a dog park after all, but all that matters is what the law says.

[TVGuy]

Follow me on this and anyone can answer, but isn't there a state leash law and wouldn't that negate an "off leash park" allowance for it(public park) or are local rules allowed for this?

Yes, there is a leash law for dogs walking openly in public,
However, this location is designated as a dog park.
Fully fenced and not open to the public areas - meaning - a dog cant go to the non-dog park area, without traversing 2 gates or climbing a 6 foot fence. thus no need for leash.
Just like the dog in your back yard can be off leash.

Except in a public park an unleashed dog is not under your control, right. I understand the concept it is a dog park after all, but all that matters is what the law says.

I would argue that enforcement matters more in this case. Never heard of any round-ups of those lawless people with their dogs off a leash at a dog park.

I don't care to take the time to look (I refuse to take my dogs to a dog park and wouldn't be concerned about enforcement if I did), but I'd be surprised if there wasn't an exemption for dog parks.

Edit to add: I'm not sure there are leash laws in the state code. I believe that is regulated by municipalities.

[EEllis]

Edit to add: I'm not sure there are leash laws in the state code. I believe that is regulated by municipalities.

Texas has a state leash law

[TVGuy]

Edit to add: I'm not sure there are leash laws in the state code. I believe that is regulated by municipalities.

Texas has a state leash law

Can you cite it? I just reviewed the code and didn't see it. This is the closest I found in the Texas State code:

Sec. 822.031. UNREGISTERED DOGS PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING AT LARGE. The owner or person having control of a dog at least six months of age in a county adopting this subchapter may not allow the dog to run at large unless the dog:

(1) is registered under this subchapter with the county in which the dog runs at large; and

(2) has fastened about its neck a dog identification tag issued by the county.

[suthdj]

Edit to add: I'm not sure there are leash laws in the state code. I believe that is regulated by municipalities.

Texas has a state leash law

Can you cite it? I just reviewed the code and didn't see it. This is the closest I found in the Texas State code:

Sec. 822.031. UNREGISTERED DOGS PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING AT LARGE. The owner or person having control of a dog at least six months of age in a county adopting this subchapter may not allow the dog to run at large unless the dog:

(1) is registered under this subchapter with the county in which the dog runs at large; and

(2) has fastened about its neck a dog identification tag issued by the county.

I guess I shuold search laws firs.
http://www.willumsenlawfirm.com/Texas-D ... Laws.shtml

[TVGuy]

I guess I shuold search laws firs.
http://www.willumsenlawfirm.com/Texas-D ... Laws.shtml

Huh? I read the actual statutes - you sent a link to a personal injury attorney's website? What you sent backed up what I already said, there is no state-wide leash law.

[suthdj]

I guess I shuold search laws firs.
http://www.willumsenlawfirm.com/Texas-D ... Laws.shtml

Huh? I read the actual statutes - you sent a link to a personal injury attorney's website? What you sent backed up what I already said, there is no state-wide leash law.

Correct, I could not find anything either, but that link explains what I wanted to know. I should have looked first before I asked.