The police department is reminding residents that the leash law for dogs is in effect.
The reminder follows a letter and video sent to the town council from a Stern Street resident who said he reached “his boiling point” over unleashed dogs roaming Head’s Beach. His 2-year-old daughter, he wrote, fears animals, especially dogs. While trying to enjoy Father’s Day at the waterfront, they encountered two families that were walking the beach with unleashed dogs.
“This is not a one-off event,” he wrote. “We frequent Head’s Beach almost daily for short swims and more often than not I find myself consoling my daughter because there is a dog south of the middle jetty. … My frustration is that there are signs that people either don’t see, don’t understand, or don’t care to abide. I find myself trying to protect my daughter from other people’s pets when all we want to do is enjoy the beach. Having lived here my entire life, I have fond memories of swimming at Head’s Beach. I want my daughter to enjoy the beautiful town she is being raised in. … The issue that I am experiencing is that no one is enforcing the rules for dogs at the beach. In fact, I want you all to be aware that there is a blatant disregard by some dog owners. The pet owners not following the rules are truly disruptive for my family.”
According to the ordinance, dogs may be unleashed at Head’s Beach north of the middle rock jetty from 6-10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. until sunset from May 16 through Sept. 30. Outside of those hours, dogs are not permitted to be anywhere on the beach. They can be unleashed from October through May 15.
The chief of police, Jamie Campbell, was copied on the June 16 correspondence.
“Based on the video you sent, this dog and owner were clearly in violation of the ordinance,” he replied. “Our goal is to remind and educate visitors about the ordinance and potential violations. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Jamestown Police Department if you witness a violation. We have informed our officers of this recent complaint and will do everything possible to ensure you and your family enjoy a relaxing visit to Heads Beach in the future.
“We are working right this minute on issuing a reminder to the Jamestown community via Facebook to address the issues regarding dogs at Head’s Beach. We will make it clear that there will be an increased presence due to these blatant violations of the town ordinance. We hope that increased enforcement and spreading the word on social media will help resolve the problems at the beach.”
Mary Meagher, vice president of the council, also responded to the complaint.
“I am so sorry for the past two years of having to console your daughter,” she wrote. “I think the first step, making us all aware, has been taken and now we will be more attentive and forceful in enforcing these well-considered rules.”
At Fort Getty, unleashed dogs are permitted during the offseason (October through May 15) at any time. During the season, they can only be unleashed from 7-11 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.
At Mackerel Cove, unleashed dogs are permitted during the offseason. They are prohibited, whether or not they are leashed, during the season.
At Potter Cove, unleashed dogs are permitted from during the offseason. During the season, they are allowed to be unleashed 6-10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. until sunset. These rules also apply to Park Dock.
At the Eldred Avenue complex, dogs must be leashed from April 1 through November 14. Leashes are never required at Conanicut Battery.
The fines are $25 for a first offense and $50 for a second offense. It is $100 for every subsequent violation in the same year.
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