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A tougher leash law? Photo by Jim Craven Red Talbott and his dog, Woofer, enjoy a stroll in west Medford Wednesday. The Medford City Council today will consider setting a minimum fine of $150 for dog owners who don't leash their pets in public. What Woofer is doing here would not draw a fine under the proposal. Medford may restrict dogs, increase fine By JIM DAVIS Medford is considering tightening its leash law and giving it more of a bite. Dog owners who let their canine pals run loose anywhere in the city limits would face a minimum $150 fine if the Medford City Council approves the ordinance revision. "The intent of it (the proposed change) was to give the code some teeth and motivation for people to pay attention to it," said Sydnee Berg, senior assistant city attorney. City Councilman Skip Knight is one of the people who has urged the city to take a stiffer stance on dogs running loose. He said he is worried about the possibility of dogs seriously injuring children. "I think the (proposed) ordinance is good," Knight said. "But I think to make it the best possible is to have better enforcement." The City Council is expected to take up the issue in its noon session today at Medford City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. Under current law, the city is part of a Jackson County dog-control district, said Gary Stevens, Jackson County's program manager for environmental health, who oversees Jackson County animal control. Under the county law, dogs are supposed to be on leashes or under voice command when in public. Also, city code requires that dogs in city parks and the city's downtown business district be on leashes at all times. The new ordinance would require dogs to be on leashes all the time in public places throughout the city limits except in the dog park at Bear Creek Park or on private property. It also would establish a minimum fine of $150 and a maximum of $250. The existing county ordinance provides for a maximum fine of $250 but sets no minimum fine. City Attorney Ron Doyle said the legal department drafted the changes after council members received citizen complaints about dogs running loose. Knight said the revised ordinance is a good first step, but the city needs to have better enforcement. He said police have more important matters to deal with than dog calls. But he suggested that this could be a task for community-service officers. Stevens said city police could enforce the county law, but generally they haven't done so. He said his department agrees with the intent of the proposed ordinance: To make a safer environment for people and for dogs. "People should be allowed to walk or run or ride their bicycles without being harassed or menaced (by dogs running at large)," Stevens said. Also, dogs running loose can spread disease to other dogs, he said. The county, Stevens said, dealt with 3,900 dog complaints last year including many cases involving bites and growling dogs. He said he didn't know if the $150 fine would keep people from picking up their impounded dogs from the county animal shelter. He said his agency wouldn't issue the city citation unless the city wants to enter into an interagency agreement. Some Medford dog owners questioned the amount of the proposed fine Wednesday. Tekla Delaney, who was walking her dog, Zoe, with her two children in east Medford, said she felt the $150 minimum was a little too high. "I think for first-time offenders, that's too high," Delaney said. "I don't think you get that much of a fine for some traffic offenses." Red Talbott, walking his dog, Woofer, in west Medford, said he has had problems with dogs running loose in his neighborhood and bothering Woofer. But he agreed that $150 seemed a little high. "I think that's a little heavy for first-time offender," Talbott said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA