It's time to enact new citywide leash law

Dear Editor:

Editor's note: The following statement was read to the Nevada City Council Tuesday night by Councilmember Brian L. Leonard.

I would like begin by stating this is my opinion and mine alone. I am not speaking for the entire council.

I personally feel we have done an injustice to the citizens of our community. This injustice is the lack of action in dealing with our community's problem regarding more stringent leash laws and dogs running at large.

Some might say we don't have a problem. To those people I would say, step outside and try to take a walk without being bothered or even approached/ confronted by dogs running at large.

When this community continues to have issues of dogs running at large and the irresponsible dog owners, something needs to be changed. I have also been told we have one of the best dog ordinances in the state. Then why are we still having issues?

For example, we have packs of dogs running at large killing other animals and "family" pets; dogs attacking our police officers; and these uncontrolled dogs running at large confronting and scaring residents who are minding their own business, walking down the street, enjoying the weather and the community.

I have personally been a witness to at least four different situations involving this issue. The last situation really grabbed my attention and has forced me to push this issue until something is changed.

On the Fourth of July, I witnessed three LARGE dogs (loose and running at large) pestering my neighbor's cat that was ON their front porch. I proceeded to go outside to run the dogs off, but before I could get across the street, two of the dogs had the cat down on the ground (one by the throat and the other dog had the cat by the hindquarters) mauling and trying to kill the cat. I literally had to get within arm's length to get the dogs to drop the cat. The cat crawled under the car, but unfortunately the cat died due to the mauling from these dogs. The Nevada Police Department was very helpful in dealing with this situation, even to the point of following up on the condition of the cat with my neighbors.

After the incident occurred, I had two thoughts run through my mind that really hit me hard ...

No. 1. WHAT IF ... that would have been my wife and I walking with our two small dogs?

No. 2. WHAT IF ... that would have been a young child playing in the yard?

I know other communities have strict dog ordinances and these ordinances are enforceable.

This issue has been literally sitting in our (the city council's) laps for almost a year, without any improvements to the city ordinance to rectify our problems. We seem to continually side-step this issue and push it to the back burner. I feel it is time to take action and fix our problem.

Brian L. Leonard

Nevada City Council member