A woman runs with her dog off leash, a common scene in Stapleton.
Ann Johnson was dropping off mail near her pocket park when an off-leash dog came out of nowhere and began to lunge at her. It jumped high enough to knock her in the jaw.
Last summer, a few guys were playing with their puggle who was off-leash at the F-15 pool. The dog ran across the street to where Kim Petersen was pushing her infant in a stroller. The dog tried to jump into the stroller and looked like it was going to bite the baby. The owners ran over and claimed it was the dog’s way of a friendly hello.
Kids were throwing a tennis ball for an off-leash puppy on the sidewalk outside their home. The ball went into the street and the puppy chased it. A car slammed on its brakes just in time to avoid hitting it.
Dogs running off leash is a regular occurrence throughout Stapleton. Some of these situations end in injury for the dog and/or owner. Many cause fear and anger. In the grand scheme of crime in Denver, dogs off leash may seem trivial. But Stapleton residents are growing concerned at the frequency of this problem.
To gauge residents’ thoughts about dogs running off leash, the Front Porch posted on NextDoor, a social media site for individual neighborhoods. What resulted was a slew of concerned comments and emails.
“So disappointed in owners who refuse to use a leash. Their dogs come charging at me on my bike and risk hurting both of us.”
“Our dog is most definitely not friendly toward other dogs and has attacked other dogs. We have worked with trainers and a behaviorist on this. We were given tools to use to work with our dog—we take her for a run almost daily, and we do everything in our power to avoid other dogs. However, if an unleashed dog were to approach us, that dog would end up being attacked by my dog.”
“I abide by the leash laws because this is a high-density community with a lot of young kids and dogs.”
Denver’s leash law requires dogs to be on a leash and under control of their owner at all times, unless in a specified off-leash area.
Most Stapleton homes have small backyards so residents seek areas to let dogs run off leash, so pocket parks, Central Park, or even sidewalks duel as dog parks.
Central Park, in particular, is described by residents as “filthy” and “scary” due to the amount of dog waste and number of dogs off leash. Several residents say they avoid the park altogether.
Stapleton resident Carrie McConnell sees off-leash dogs daily, including two during the interview for this story. “I think not feeling safe in Central Park, that is alarming. And I think it’s a bummer because the pocket parks, which are so unique to Stapleton, are used as a dog park,” McConnell says.
McConnell recalls a recent day when her son and a friend were swinging golf clubs in the pocket park. An off-leash dog kept coming up to smell them. The owner told the kids to stop swinging golf clubs because they may hit the dog. It begs the question, do dogs rule in Stapleton?
Dogs off leash can be a point of contention among neighbors. Stapleton resident Wendi Kispert is more primarily bothered by owners of off-leash dogs. Her dog does not like dogs running up off leash and often growls or barks. “What makes it worse is that the owner(s) of the dog(s) act like my dog and I are in the wrong when she goes crazy. I have had to pick her up and start running (thank goodness she is small) from the dogs, and the owner(s) just look at me and don’t call in their dogs.”
Shelley Sandel, veterinarian at Northfield Veterinarian Hospital, says even the friendliest dogs may be set off by a certain dog or situation and try to attack. “I’ve been a vet for 22 years and even the very best dog I don’t trust 100 percent.”
Older dogs can be particularly bothered by puppies, according to Sandel. Last year, a one-year-old labradoodle puppy was tragically attacked and killed at Westerly Creek Park by two large dogs. The dogs were leashed around the owner’s waist, but not under control. Under control is defined as the dog can be restrained if needed. A child holding a leash or an owner wearing an extended leash around the waist would not be considered under control.
While Sandel sympathizes wanting to let dogs run, leash laws are the law—people who do not abide are subject to fines. “Keeping dogs leashed is safer for everyone,” she says.
To report a dog bite, attack, violations or problems, call the Denver Division of Animal Control at 303.698.0076. For an emergency, call 911.
A retractable leash is not an adequate control for your dog unless you reel it in to a length you can manage before a person or dog comes near. Six feet or less.
Even a well trained voice controlled dog is still a dog. The law says it must be leashed and it is not up to owner discretion.
The dog park needs an upgrade for sure. Make some noise about that or better yet, get a crew of volunteers together and do something about it.
Meanwhile, the laws are the laws, leash your dog, period.
I walk my dog on leash. Most people have their dogs on leash here, however, pocket park people are the biggest offenders. They rarely leash their large dogs and I’ve had them run at me across the street to approach my dog. If your dog gets hit by a car due to being unleashed, that’s on you. It can happen! The dog park in Northfield is always empty. Give it a try. Lots of space to run and play.
I completely agree that dogs should be on leash at all times outside of their private property or designated off-leash areas. I always keep my dog on leash on our Central Park walks. We use a retractable leash. Recently, an older man on a bike will pass us and harass me by repeatedly saying “six feet, six feet,” by which I’ve figured out he means my dog’s leash is too long. While I doubt this guy has the Internet, I’d like to make it clear that the Denver leash law states nothing about maximum leash lengths. If my dog is under my control on her leash (which she is), the retractable is perfectly legal. Residents should allow others to enjoy the outdoors without harassment – either from off-leash dogs or grumpy old farts.
Keeping dogs on leash is not the total answer. I just planted six small plants on the corner of my property in the flower bed. The next morning a dog had dug one up and partially uprooted two more scratching around in the dirt. Maybe the owner should be on a leash, controlled by someone who is at least smarter than the dog.
A couple of things that really bothered me about your article:
First, I am a dog owner and try to be a responsible dog owner. With the design of small yards and community areas, there was not enough consideration made for the dogs people own, nor do I believe dog owners were involved in creating the dog parks – we need MORE. We need more space for dogs to play and run and the parks we presently have are “dirt” parks and are often over crowded.
Second, people calling Central park Filthy and Scary – it would be nice if you could do an article on the design of central park – the north side of the park and the east, west side of the park are planted with native grasses – I hear people all the time complaining that the park is messy and not groomed – this is a xeriscape landscape park and for many people that is a NEW concept.
Third, the trash and filth implies that it comes from dogs off leash – i live on the north-side of the park and after every sliding day – i am picking up trash off the hill – broken sleds, mittens, gloves, cans, food stuff. I walk around to the grass fields and after every soccer, football practice/games see dozens of water bottles, gator-aid, apples, treat trash laying on the fields. When I walk my dog, i take extra bags to pick up dog poop, most of it is just off the sidewalks through the park – I guess people believe if the dog poop is in wild grass that it will somehow disappear.
Despite what the park services does to regrow areas (sled hill) – i see fences and signs ignored by bikes, joggers, walkers, runners, etc, and torn down for the past 2 years by sledders.
Maybe it is time that more people own the parks and realize that it is an extension of their community – teach their children to look around and pick up their trash before heading to the car – instead of just looking at me oddly when I stop and pick up trash……..
Willow Bark Dog Park on 53rd is almost always completely empty, and it’s new, so it’s still in great condition. Not sure why this park is still unknown!
I let my dog off leash. And not just in the dog park, which is filthy. The unsanitary conditions at the dog park at Stapleton are NOT ok. The Lowery park is just as bad. It can’t be healthy for a dog to pick up a tennis ball, that has been rolled in dog dirt and slobber by dozens of other dogs. Remember biology class? It’s gross!
I consider myself responsible. I pick up my dog’s messes. I leash up when there is foot, bike, and car traffic, and when someone approaches with a dog.
I love my dog, and I want others to love my dog too. Of course I realize not everyone is a “dog person”, obviously. So I give a wide berth to walkers, joggers and bikers, but most importantly I’ve trained my dog. He doesn’t turn into a furry berserker at the sight of another animal, tethered or not, domesticated or wild.
Train and socialize your dog. He’ll be more enjoyable to you and others. And practice a little tolerance.
Gated dog parks are great places to let dogs off leash. The Stapleton dog park can get crowed on the weekends (get there early and not so much) but it’s usually not during weekdays.
And the two in Lowry (one for big/active dogs, one for small/chill dogs – they are side by side) are much less crowded at all hours. It’s an easy drive down Central Park Blvd, which turns into Yosemite and leads directly to the Lowry dog parks near Big Bear ice rink and the sports fields.