Leashless dogs can fetch fines

Despite signs that state “No dogs allowed” throughout City Beach and City Park in Coeur d’Alene, some people still let their dogs run loose at the popular summer hangouts.

But dog owners who ignore the rules face fines of $50. An officer could also charge under the state code for “dog at large” – a misdemeanor offense with a maximum fine of $1,000.

All that was news to Tina Evangelisti, of San Diego, who let her black Lab and goldendoodle run free Tuesday near downtown. She spotted the park while waiting for her fiance and decided to let her dogs play. They ran through City Park and onto the beach without restraint.

“There’s nobody here so I didn’t see any harm in it,” Evangelisti said.

Coeur d’Alene parks officials disagree. Dog waste and safety issues are the main reasons dogs are restricted there.

The only two city parks where dogs are allowed are the Tubbs Hill trail and the Centennial Trail, and they must be on leashes.

Where the Centennial Trail cuts through City Park, colored paw prints on the pavement to show pet owners where leashed animals can be walked. The Tubbs Hill trail is not paved, but owners can walk leashed dogs through any primary or secondary trail. City ordinances state that dog owners must pick up waste and dispose of it in a sanitary manner.

“If there were a lot of people, I can see why there’d be a point to that,” Evangelisti said.

Dogs are a popular recreational amenity for families, said Doug Eastwood, director of the Coeur d’Alene Parks Department. Families like taking their dogs everywhere, but it’s not always compatible, Eastwood said. Owners risk injury to both dogs and people.

The biggest complaint the parks department receives is when people don’t pick up after their dogs, he said. “As long as the weather is good enough and people want to be out with their dogs, it’s a problem.”

The parks maintenance staff is not responsible for enforcing city ordinances, but Eastwood said workers will warn people of the rules before they call the authorities.

“Every year we address the problem,” said Sgt. Christie Wood, Coeur d’Alene Police Department public information officer.

Police and reserve officers enforce city ordinances concerning animals. They don’t want to write citations but will, Wood said.

Every year it’s a challenge to teach people about the laws, she said. People who let their dogs defecate at public parks, trails and sport fields create the biggest animal control problem police face, Wood said.

“I firmly believe if it hadn’t been for irresponsible dog owners, there wouldn’t be an ordinance,” said George Evjen, a Coeur d’Alene native who owns a schnauzer rescued from a landfill.

Letting a dog run free is totally irresponsible, Evjen said. He walks Millie twice a day at Tubbs Hill, through his neighborhood and occasionally downtown. But Millie is never off her leash. Evjen carries plastic bags for waste and said people should know better than to let their dogs run in a city park.

“People turn their dogs loose because they feel sorry for them, and they don’t feel sorry for the people that have to put up with them,” he said.

The parks department is updating its master plan, and Eastwood said the possibility of a city dog park is being evaluated. “We’re not there yet,” he said, but added that a dog park is a high priority.

The city would need at least 4 acres of land, money for development and funds for long-term care. Initial results of the master plan will be completed this summer.