Based on previous comments off leash hours are something you'd need to discuss with the city, not the POA, as I think the same liability barriers would occur for the hours as with the park.
There is a simple solution until the nattering nay-bobs come up with a better one. First, the Law: (from CHAPTER 52. REGULATIONS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS GOVERNING ANIMAL CONTROL
... 52.005 RESTRAINT
A. Restraint of Dogs. Pursuant to Section 826.014 of Chapter 826, Travis County hereby requires that:
1. It is the responsibility of each Owner to effectively restrain the Owner's dog, which means the dog must either be kept securely on the Owner's property so that the dog remains on the Owner's property or, if not on the Owner's property, on a leash of a length that will allow for the direct control of the dog by the Owner or the person in control of the dog (or otherwise contained, such as in a car, in a crate, etc.) . The ACA may require an Owner to increase the effectiveness of the restraint if the type of restraint used by the Owner is shown not to be effective, as determined by the ACA. A person keeping a dog on a leash shall keep the dog under control at all times. This leash requirement does not apply in portions of public parks officially designated as no-restraint areas (unless the dog has been determined, pursuant to these Rules, to be a Dangerous Dog, in which case a leash is required even in designated no-restraint areas); however, the Owner must still maintain reasonable control over the dog at all times.
Second, The solution long and light leashes (i think kite string would be sufficient) If, as is pointed out by many dog owners who advocate no leash opportunities, an Owner is able to control their animal at distances without a leash, then having a kite string tied to the collar of your animal will suffice in accordance with the law.
Problem solved, now let's take all this energy that we've been putting into this discussion and focus on some real crimes, like people that eat sushi and don't pay for it!
I saw a toddler nearly lose her leg from being run through by retractable leash. Think "kite string". There is no simple solution- there is compromise and a shared goal that as many people in a community as possible feel their voice is heard. Change begins with dialogue. Those of us with pets usually consider them to be of value in a much deeper sense than whether or not we pay our sushi bill. It is telling the neighborhood association has a pit ban as most people know it is not a breed standard ( of the various kinds ) but the individual dog or most typically their owners who are at fault in any scenario. I am drafting a proposal to the city for off leash hours not dog runs. I guess we'll see soon enough the spirit of the neighbors in Mueller.
Roka, A couple of things: One, I'm on your side. I totally am down with any and all positive solutions that are being proposed, and I think the idea of Leashless Hours is the soundest and most easily implemented proposal to date.
Two, I can see how you might have interpreted "Nattering Nay-bobs" to be offensive. I apologize for that, but truly it was intended only as a nod to people like myself that just love some of the things Nixon's administration came up with to say during the early Watergate days. I suppose it didn't really fit in too well with the conversation at hand, but I love it anyway and quote Agnew whenever I get a chance. For more folksy wisdom by Spiro Agnew you might want to check out this webpage: http://www.ranker.com/list/a-list-of-famous-spiro-agnew-quotes/reference
Three, I'm not sure what kind of kite string retraction systems they use in New York, but here we're still using the handheld manually rolled up spools on a stick. I don't think the roll up rate (RUR) by even the most eager of kite-fliers could generate enough friction to slice through a toddler leg.
CHUCK! haha. thanks for that! My husband would be sorely disappointed I didn't catch the reference and it may be that I'm still shaking from my angry on-leash dog owner encounter ;-)
I thought you mean retractable leash by kite string leash but you actually meant kite string! pardon my yankee brain on that one.
Repo man on the playlist and I'll keep you posted on city hall.
If Mueller were to add a dog park, I reckon that would result in an increase in HOA fees, and I doubt that would go over well since not everyone owns dogs.
If it is a city park, I see that meaning more traffic into the neighborhood. And since there is limited space, I would hate to see an area already reserved as park space get turned into a dog park, which is something a lot of residents would never use. Not to mention the parking problem a lot of people have already complained of.
I understand the desire to have your dog outside and off-leash, but I just don't think the neighborhood can be built for it.
Given the other trending topic on the forums.... maybe the best solution is to build a dog park that also has a baby pool not connected to the adult end!
Off leash hours. Hours. Not park. Say 9pm to 8 am. It is 7:10 an as I type this Saturday morning and it's deserted out here. Just walking along alone with a sad puppy tied to a leash.
Off leash hours. Hours. Not park. Say 9pm to 8 am. It is 7:10 an as I type this Saturday morning and it's deserted out here. Just walking along alone with a sad puppy tied to a leash.
