Item 6: Off Leash Working Group Presentation — original pdf

Backup

Off-Leash Dogs Working Group August 2026 Jo Anne Norton, Whitney Holt Issues Considered by the Working Group • Misinformation about existing laws, especially on social media platforms • New Austinites may not know about existing laws • Off-leash dogs on parkland that is on-leash only – people cannot safely enjoy City parkland • Off-leash dogs in neighborhoods (owned dogs) – people cannot safely walk in their neighborhood • Options for people to report issues • Continued education and data monitoring People Concerns Gathered from NextDoor, emails, conversations about off-leash dogs in on-leash areas and neighborhoods • Chase bikes potentially causing accidents • Run up to strollers or people with walking aids • Poop not scooped because owners are on their phones or talking to others • Not enough tickets written for violations • Dogs run up to random adults and children • Dog owners are not trained to break up dog fights Current Laws - Austin City Code Title 3 • Keep dogs on a leash and under control in all areas that are not designated as “off-leash” • Pick up and sanitarily dispose of pet waste left on public or private property • Provide adequate shelter • Ensure pets have current rabies vaccinations • Confine pets transported in unenclosed vehicles in a manner that prevents the animal from falling or jumping from the vehicle or being injured • DO NOT leave a pet alone on a chain or tether • It’s unlawful to sell a puppy or kitten that is not spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped Enforcement Affected by Staffing - PARD • 21 Park Rangers (Full time) • 11 Seasonal Rangers (part time) • 4 Cadet interns (PT) • 7 days a week - Service 330 City Parks - 19,000 acres of parkland • Handle a multitude of parkland related issues • Cannot write tickets for off-leash dog violations PARD Improvements Since 2022 • More signage in parks, such as Auditorium Shores • Large signs in parks, such as South Austin Rec Center • Mueller POA – Signs around the lake most likely put up by people and taken down by – PARD owns greenways around the perimeter and installed on-leash signs in each park • Seasonal rangers and cadets • Clear, informative website PARD Improvements Since 2022, continued Dog Off Leash Area Pilot Programs The Pilot DOLAs aim to provide space for dog owners to take their pets to be off-leash that does not create additional conflict with other park users Austin Parks and Recreation will explore information around the following objectives: ● Reduce the frequency of off-leash dogs in the park outside of the designated area ● Provide a space for dog owners to take their pets off-leash without creating conflict with other park users ● Encourage compliance with city ordinance ● Explore community sentiment of the off-leash area in the park ● Evaluate maintenance needs and ongoing expenses ● Assess environmental impact PARD Improvements Since 2022, continued • Off-Leash Dog Park Pilot Programs, continued – Pilot parks • Circle C (D8) – Decision - Analyzing survey feedback • Little Zilker (D5) – Decision - No dog park • Longview Neighborhood (D5) – Decision - Analyzing survey feedback • Funding – PARD general fund • Details https://wwwaustintexasgov/parks/programs/dog-leash-area-pilot-programs PARD Improvements Since 2022, continued 2022 - 12 2026 - 30 Enforcement Affected by Staffing - AAS • 18 Animal Protection Officers • 4 APO Leads (half time field, half time AAS) • 2 Investigators – One serious bodily injury – One dangerous dog • 2 Wildlife Officers – One City, One County - some field work depending on request • 6 Dispatchers – 4 Regular (3 FT, 1 PT), 2 Temp - cover 7 days a week • 7 days a week, 7a-Midnight - Service 900 Sq Miles of Travis County • Handle a multitude of animal related issues • Can write citations for off-leash dog violations – Citations can be increased by a judge to $500 or dismissed entirely Calls to 311 Containing the word “Dog” Annual Volume • 2019 - 10,042 • 2020 - 8,817 • 2021 - 9,455 • 2022 - 9,693 (Off-leash dog working group summary) • 2023 - 10,823 • 2024 - 10,610 • 2025 - 10,006 • 2026 - 5,824 (through 7/5/2026) Most Common Descriptions • Loose, dangerous, vicious, restraint issues, not dog Raising Awareness - Fencing Fund Proactively keeping pets in their yards ● Program allots up to $250 per household for fence materials (consideration given if more is needed) - typically covers around a 150 sq ft enclosure ● APO confirms the dogs are vaccinated for rabies and neutered ○ If not, the fencing material is not supplied ■ Information on free low/cost wellness services is provided ● APO communicates with the homeowner, then the homeowner submits a list of materials they need to fix the fence ○ Fencing application is on the AAS website ● APO buys/takes the materials and delivers them to the homeowner ● APO checks back in a couple of weeks and if the materials remain unused, they are returned to AAS ● Dog houses may also be available if donated ○ Application to receive a dog house is on the AAS site ○ Dog house donation form is on the AAS site Raising Awareness - Fencing Fund, continued Fencing recommended by ● APOs responding to off-leash dog calls who notice fence issues that contribute to the dog(s) getting out ● Consideration: Code compliance officers responding to residential violation calls and notice the homeowner has a dog(s) that could get out due to bad fencing Concerns • If the homeowner’s dogs are not up to date to date on rabies and/or spay/neutered, they are the very dogs we do not want out because they are a health risk to humans and other pets • The fencing fund has around $11K so around 44 fences. Promotion of the donation fund would be helpful Raising Awareness - Education • Educational plan – 2022 Collateral (brochures and two videos) • PARD (Google priority when searching for dog parks) – All materials are available – Videos featured on the page – Current DOLAs • AAS – No videos – No wildlife brochure – Off-leash parks appears to be out-of-date (2025 latest) – Raising Awareness - Education, continued • AAS – Employees educate the public about off-leash dog requirements through outreach during events, neighborhood meetings and through interactions in the community such as sharing information with individuals experiencing homelessness – Brendan (homeless liaison) provides leashes, harnesses and other supplies – Outreach is performed by Public Health Educators, Animal Protection Officers, and Public Information and Marketing professionals – Information on social media • AAS considering a regular cadence to social media • Suggest Council Member newsletter annual reminder Raising Awareness - Education, continued • Park Rangers – Provide education at locations with high calls to 311 • Website Enhancements – AAS enhanced their Website to make information easier to find – AAS added off-leash issues to their Chatbox – PARD site is very good Recommendations Ask your CM to include an update about animal services in their monthly newsletter – Education opportunities – Off-leash laws – Donate to fencing fun – Location of off-leash dog areas – Wellness vouchers – Free microchips and tags at AAS (walk in) – Friends of Austin Animal Services (training vouchers, medical support, etc) Recommendations - Replying to People • Call 311 to report incidents such as: – Off-leash dogs in public spaces not designated as an “off-leash area” • Include a detailed location • The data is being collected to support enhancements to City services – Habitual strays • Neighbors who routinely let their dogs out to roam • Give the owner’s address • Animal Protection has a process to engage your neighbor Recommendations - Replying to People, Continued • Calling 311, continued – Dogs harassing wildlife - need detailed location – Dog doesn’t seem to have a home • Is skinny, intact, looks scared or lost – Dog scares or injures a human • Important - call 911 if the injury is severe • An APO will contact you • Dangerous Dog Statute – Dog injures a dog, cat or fowl • An APO will contact you • Vicious Dog Ordinance Recommendations - Replying to People, Continued • Private property (AISD land, businesses, churchyards) – Contact the responsible party, such as the AISD police, the business or the church administration • Ask for a speaker at neighborhood meetings – AAS educators – PARD rangers • Fencing assistance to keep dogs in their yards – Application is on the AAS website – Promote donations to the fencing fund Recommendations - Replying to People, Continued • Request an off-leash dog park (DOLA) – HOA or POA? Start with that group – Land jointly owned or maintained by the City and another entity? • Reach out to the HOA/POA and copy dola@austintexasgov • Mueller examples: – The city owns the greenways and has a maintenance agreement with the Mueller POA to maintain them. – The city owns Garcia Park and will transfer it to the Mueller developer/POA at some point – City and Mueller POA agreed to a pilot DOLA in the Mueller Northwest Greenway, scheduled to begin in early 2027 Recommendations - Replying to People, Continued • Request an off-leash dog area, continued – City parkland • Refer the person to the pilot program website • Suggest they read the DOLA-Guidelines-2023 (link on the website) – site criteria, considerations, etc • If the area qualifies, email: dola@austintexasgov