After an ever-increasing rate in reported dog bites, Moscow Police Department wants to remind students to keep their dogs on-leash.
Alan Johnson, code enforcement officer with the Moscow Police Department, said he has reminded several students in the early weeks of fall dogs are not only required to be on-leash on University of Idaho campus, but within Moscow city limits.
Johnson said in 2019 there have already been 18 reported dog bites, compared to 18 total in both 2017 and 2018.
Johnson said his typical approach when he sees someone with a dog off-leash on campus is to simply approach them and have a conversation, pointing them in the direction of the two dog parks in town. After several conversations with the same person about off-leash pets, Johnson said that is when he will issue a citation — something he said he has not yet had to do. Dogs off-leash within city limits is a violation of city ordinance, therefore a misdemeanor violation.
Johnson recommended those wanting to let their pups run free go to one of the two local dog parks: Mountain View Dog Park, located at 2052 W Mountain View Road or Moscow Dog Park at 2019 White Avenue.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @mere0415