Dogs in Chesterfield County must be on-leash while on county-owned property after four of the county’s five supervisors voted for tighter restrictions at a Wednesday night meeting.
“We’ve had multiple complaints over the years with dogs that are not on a leash and ends up in their neighbors’ yard, and ends up chasing their dog or chasing their kid,” said Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll. “It’s a necessary update to the code.”
The law requires dogs to be on a physical leash on all county-owned land, including parks — except for “designated and posted exercise/off leash areas,” like the dog runs at Rockwood Park and Goyne Park. K-9 or search-and-rescue dogs are exempt from the requirement, as are dogs engaged in lawful hunting practices.
The lone abstention came from Dale District Supervisor James Holland, who couldn’t attend the meeting for personal reasons.
Lt. Col. Dave Shand, of the Chesterfield County Police Department, said the county’s animal control agency analyzed two years’ worth of calls concerning loose dogs and came up with the recommendation as a response. No one stood up to oppose to the new rules, which also increase the minimum fine for violations from $25 to $50.
Some Chesterfield dog owners told VPM News last week that they mostly supported the new rules.
The new bylaw also includes a provision mandating residents keep livestock — including chickens — on their property at all times.
Board chair Jim Ingle, of the Bermuda District, said it was an issue he had to deal with firsthand.
From now on, he said, “you’re going to need to make sure they stay on your property whether you have a fence or not.”
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