West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith said wording for an update expanding the existing leash ordinance will be drafted for review by the Town Council’s Public Safety Committee.

By Ronni Newton

The Town of West Hartford has a leash law, and while it currently applies only to public parks, playgrounds, or athletic fields, that could change later this year.

At the most recent meeting of the Town Council’s Public Safety Committee, Town Manager Rick Ledwith raised the topic of expanding existing ordinance 128-3(D) which currently states that it is unlawful for any person to: “Take any dog into any park or playground except on a leash not longer than six feet or permit any pet to go into any active play area, apparatus area, athletic field or recreation enclosure or building unless said pet is participating in a program sponsored by the Town.” The fine for violating the ordinance is $79.

Animal Control Officer and Supervisor Kimberly Gulino is advocating for a broader leash law to apply throughout town. She shared information with the Public Safety Committee, statistics indicating that since 2023 there have been 100 roaming calls and 64 reported incidents in West Hartford resulting from dogs off leash that “attacked a person or another dog.” The dog vs. dog or dog vs. person incidents have often involved unleashed dogs running out of their own yard, or being walked off-leash, she said.

And beyond the attacks, Gulino told We-Ha.com, “We’ve gotten a lot of complaints about owners just letting their dogs walk in front or behind them off leash,” by as much as 50 feet, with the owner failing to notice, for instance, when the dog defecates. It happens often to those who walk through West Hartford Center.

There’s no statewide leash law either, although Gulino noted that Connecticut General Statutes 22-364 requires that dog owners “ensure their pets are under control and not allowed to roam onto another person’s property, public highway, sidewalks or state parks unless authorized.”

The state allows municipalities to enact their own leash laws, and while Farmington and Avon have ordinances similar to what West Hartford currently has in place, Gulino shared some information about other area towns that require dogs to be leashed at all times, and the associated fines per offense for violations. Hartford charges $50 per dog; Bloomfield charges $75 per dog; Rocky Hill charges $25 per dog for the first occurrence, $50 for the second occurrence, and $99 for the third occurrence; and Cromwell charges $75 per occurrence but doubles that if not paid after seven days. Fines in Stratford start at $25, but a dog owner receives a misdemeanor summons for the third occurrence, and fines in Woodbury range from $90 to $250.

E-collars are not considered by the state to be a restraint and should not be a permitted substitute for a leash, Gulino said, something she would like to see that addressed in the revised ordinance as well. “They are a great tool for training, for some people, for some dogs,” she said, but use of an e-collar does not reliably prevent “flight, or fight” and can make some dogs aggressive.

Leashed dogs are also less likely to chase or harm local wildlife – or suffer harm themselves through contact with other animals.

When a dog is off leash, the owner has no control, Gulino said. “Even the best, well-trained animal – it’s still an animal. We just have to remember that,” she said. “I just think it’s going to be safer for everyone in the community if the dogs are leashed.”

A snug-fitting collar or harness and a leash is the best option for controlling a dog, Gulino said. And while she is not suggesting retractable leashes be specifically mentioned in the revised ordinance, the existing law does state that the leash be no longer than six feet.

“I support the Animal Control officers in their effort to enact the ordinance,” David Coleman, co-president of the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition, told We-Ha.com. But, he added, he thought there was already a more comprehensive leash law that applied in town, and believes that dog owners he knows, including those who use the dog park managed by the WHDPC on Mayflower Street – a space where dogs are permitted to be off-leash – are also under that impression.

“It would make official what everyone does in practice already,” Coleman said. “Obviously I want to cut back on dog bites,” he added.

Dogs and their owners enjoy the chance to play and socialize at West Hartford’s dog park, where leashes are not required. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Education is an important component, and Gulino said she would like to see more signage about the existing law that applies to parks and fields, as well as education of the community before any changes to the ordinance.

“The education piece is extremely important because we are potentially changing things [with a revised ordinance],” West Hartford Police Chief Vernon Riddick said at the Public Safety Committee meeting. Animal Control is a division of the police department, and he acknowledged the “passionate, compassionate work of ACO Gulino” in looking out for the safety of residents and their pets.

Ledwith said corporation counsel will draft an updated ordinance that the Public Safety Committee will have the opportunity to review this fall, likely in September, and then a public hearing will be scheduled in advance of a Town Council vote to approve any changes.

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