Animal Control Report: Dogs Off Leash in W&OD Greenway
A look at some recent incidents in Alexandria.
Animal Control officers in Alexandria deal with a variety of calls every week. Here's a glance at some recent incidents in the city courtesy of Patrick Cole, the director of communications and outreach at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
Dogs off leash in W&OD Greenway — On Feb. 22, Animal Control was summoned to Mount Jefferson Park and the W&OD Greenway near the 2500 block of E. Randolph Avenue, a frequent destination for the Animal Control office.
A nearby resident reported seeing a dog off leash in the public park. While there is a public dog park and exercise area within Mount Jefferson Park, several complaints have been made recently about dogs running at large outside of the designated dog area.
An officer arrived and patrolled the park, but was unable to locate any dogs or dog owners.
Animal Control is continuing to perform regular patrols of Mount Jefferson Park and the W&OD Greenway to remind dog owners that all dogs must be leashed while in public. The dog park and exercise area, which has its boundaries marked by bollards, allows for off-leash activity but several neighbors have reported seeing dogs off leash in the greenway.
More information about the City of Alexandria’s 18 dog parks can be found on the city’s website.
An unsightly yard — On Feb. 26, an Animal Control officer responded to a complaint in the 400 block of E. Del Ray Avenue. The complaint was about an unusually large amount of animal feces in the yard in front of a residence.
The officer observed many piles of feces in various stages of decay in the front yard of the home. The winter weather suppressed any foul odor, but the officer was concerned that a violation could occur when the weather gets warmer if nothing is done.
The resident was not home at the time of the Animal Control visit, but a notice to comply was left at the home. The resident later contacted the officer and stated that this is not normally how the yard is kept and the mess will be cleaned up immediately.
Spay-neuter clinic for outdoor cats — On March 10, a spay-neuter clinic will be held for outdoor cats in Alexandria. The clinic is free for cats from the Arlandria and Sanger Avenue-Beauregard Street neighborhoods, and low-cost for all other outdoor cats in Alexandria. Citizens feeding outdoor cats or interested in trapping and transporting should contact TNR@AlexandriaAnimals.org or 703-746-5581 for more information about this event.
Mardi Growl Gala set for March 8 — The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is hosting its third annual Mardi Growl Gala on March 8 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The gala is the AWLA’s largest annual fundraiser, and helps the organization continue to care for thousands of animals each year at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the event website. All proceeds benefit Alexandria’s homeless animals.
For more information about Alexandria Animal Control, visit the AWLA website.
Robert Guynn
12:34 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
In reference to the off leash area. The area that is currently listed as the off leash area is unfenced, adjacent to a playground, next to the road and is chronically muddy to the point of being unusable.
Why not re-designate the grassy area that is further into the park and has a fence around it as the dog park? The area has tall residential fences on one side and a commercial building with no doors or windows on the other. This space also has virtually no other users besides people exercising their dogs.
While we are being petty, I would also be curious as to why those homes adjacent to the public park should be allowed to have their own private gardens, dump their storm drainage, store their garbage or be allowed to dump food in a half hearted effort to compost in the public space.
amy lu
7:49 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
In reference to the off leash area. Possibly if the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs were in the least bit responsive to multiple requests over numerous years to relocate the current off-leash area and to invest in minor drainage improvements, there indeed would be a reasonable area for dogs and dog owners use.
In reference to being petty re: curious as to why private gardens, et al should be allowed. There are multiple leash law signs posted. There are not any 'no gardening, no composting' signs posted.
As for storm water drains; in 2004 sump pumps in single-family homes were required to discharge "directly to a storm sewer provided that the storm sewer is within 100' of the premises."
http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/tes/info/New%20Procedures%20for%20Sump%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Mr. Guynn, himself a repeat leash law offender, apparently has no knowledge of discussions between Randolph Ave. home owners and PR&CA or the Adopt-A-Park program.
Robert Guynn
5:51 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Amy Lu
The composting I spoke of is in reference to someone dumping food. That is not composting, it's dumping and I suspect rats will follow.
The drainage I mention is in reference to sump lines that extend partially into the park close to Raymond. I have read the memorandum you attached and it says "directly" into storm sewer. In my experience with the city when they say directly they mean directly into the catch basin not nearby. The memorandum also points out that if it becomes a nuisance when dumped to the curb then other means need to be found. Dumping onto the path were puddles form all summer allowing mosquitos to breed is indeed a nuisance.
I greatly appreciate citizens, like yourself, who have given their time to make this public space what it is. I should have said this in my first post and I regret not saying so.