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Leash law will cover all of Medford Minimum fine goes after several protest proposed changes By JIM DAVIS They took out the bite, but left the bark. The Medford City Council expanded its leash law Thursday to cover the entire city limits, but the council did away with a minimum $150 fine. Instead, the municipal judge will choose a fine up to $250. "I don't want to take away that discretion," said Councilman Bob Strosser. The City Council voted 5-3 at its noon session to change the leash law. The changes came after several residents complained about dogs running at large in the city. Before the amended ordinance, the only places where dogs were required to be on leashes was in the city's downtown business district and in city parks. The city is part of a Jackson County dog-control district where dogs are supposed to be on leashes or under voice command in all public places. Medford City Councilman Skip Knight asked the city to look at its leash law because he worried about the damage large dogs running in the city could do to small children. He supported the changes originally proposed, which would have required dogs to be on leashes at all times in public places in the city limits. He also supported the $150 minimum fine. "I think $150 is very minimal compared to what tragically could happen," Knight said. But four people stood before the City Council Thursday and argued against the proposed changes or parts of the changes. Nancy Clark of Medford said she had been on the board of the Southern Oregon Humane Society. "We find that anything that increases the cost of owning an animal drives more animals into the shelters," Clark said. She said the council should consider smaller fines for first-time offenders and increasing those fines for repeat offenders. "There are people who are responsible and they try hard, but their dogs do get out," Clark said. "Anyone who is a continual violator -- I think they should be zapped." Several council members told stories -- some fond and some not so fond -- of their experiences with dogs. Curt Bennett said he couldn't support the ordinance. He said his family takes its dog for a walk every day, and sometimes let it run loose in a field near the Medford airport. "Those fields are in city limits," Bennett said. "We'd be in violation." He said the ordinance with a $150 fine could have a serious effect on dog owners. "If the goal of the council is to remove dogs from the city, this ordinance would do it," Bennett said. Councilman Bill Moore said the law isn't written for responsible people. "As a jogger, I've been cornered by someone's dog that meant to bite me," Moore said. He said city police have discretion in who they give tickets to. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA