Some school grounds in Montgomery County are turning into potentially dangerous dog runs where canines roam freely in close proximity to young students, critics say.
County law allows dogs on school property during, before and after classes provided they are leashed, yet parents and after-school program director say the leash requirement is not being followed, often to the potential detriment of children.
Danuta Wilson, an outspoken parent in the district, told The Examiner it’s a problem she has complained about for some time without a solid resolution from leadership in the county executive’s officeand police department.
And Westmoreland Children Center Program Director Jeff Benton agrees that the enforcement of Montgomery County’s leash laws is lacking, particularly at Bethesda’s Westbrook Elementary School, the campus his program serves.
Benton cites an instance when a large German shepherd ran after a ball that rolled near a group of students, “terrifying them.”
“And there was one incident where my staff brought out the kids and a dog came toward one of the kids,” he said. “The kid instinctively ran and the dog chased it. Owners tend to use the old adage ‘My dog doesn’t bite.’ But I’m sorry to say, ‘Your dog doesn’t bite you; who knows what it would do to others in response to an unfamiliar gesture.’ ”
Capt. Harold Allen, chief of the county’s Animal Service Division, also is the parent of school-age children. He says that he takes special care to have his officers patrol schools for loose pets.
“Dogs on school property is a huge priority of mine,” he told The Examiner on Wednesday.
But patrolling has its limitations, the captain acknowledged. Right now, Animal Services is down two officers, meaning just eight officers are charged with looking out for leash law violations and responding to specific complaints for the entire county.
Starting a few years ago, the department began relying much more heavily on an affidavit system in which complainants can attest in writing to unlawful behavior and then testify in court.
“It’s worked very well,” he said. “For a while people were left out in the cold when we didn’t see the violation … but we can’t be everywhere all the time.”
The objection Wilson has to this approach, however, is that it pits neighbor against neighbor, so residents are reluctant to call out people by name. She hopes a clear line of accountability can be established and that enforcement increases.
County assistant chief administrative officer Scott Reilly said he’s not convinced there’s a persistent problem but that he has offered to follow up on the issue with the Board of Education.
Last year, Montgomery County issued a total of 567 citations for a variety of pet-owning offenses. According to Animal Services, the first-time charge for not having a dog on a leash is $100, and the second-time charge carries a $500 fine.
