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Chesterfield to debate tighter leash laws, increased fines

A woman walks her dog next to a fence.
Billy Shields
/
VPM News
Courtney Tennity and her pit bull mix, Daisy, walk at Rockwood Park in Chesterfield County Wednesday, Jan. 15. The county is considering stricter leash laws that would require owners to keep their dogs on leash on most county property.

Proposed rule would require dogs to remain leashed on most county land.

Chesterfield County officials are set to meet to tackle the problem of dogs running loose.

A proposed county bylaw would add a rule that dogs be on-leash while on county-owned property, including in parks — unless they’re in a designated off-leash area, like the dog runs at Rockwood Park and Goyne Park.

The penalty for violating the existing leash law is $25; the new proposed rules — which would not apply to dogs working for a rescue, law enforcement or other kind of agency, or legally hunting — would increase the fine to $50.

“We’ve had a large number of people come forward and express concern that they’ve been at a playground in one of our parks with their children or taking a walk with their dog and there was a dog running loose,” Lt. Carrie Jones — the animal services manager for the county’s police department — wrote in an email.

Chesterfield resident Courtney Tennity, who works at a veterinarian’s office, took Daisy — her 1 year-old pit bull mix — to the Rockwood Park dog park.

Tennity told VPM News that dog owners tend to be aware that entering a fenced-in dog run can be problematic, but “when you’re out walking your dog on the trails, you aren’t aware that there could be a risk.”

She said it’s not fair for people out walking on trails to be approached by off-leash dogs.

Lily Diaz, the owner of a 3-year-old foxhound/greyhound mix named Cowboy, said there are good reasons why some owners like to have their dogs off-leash at a park.

However, she added: “There are kids, families — and some people do not train their dogs as well as they think they have.”

If Cowboy were off-leash in the open park, he’d be “God-knows-where in the woods by the time I’d finally find him,” Diaz said. “Crashing someone’s lunch, doing something naughty, so he has to stay on the leash in the wild.”

County law already permits a local dogcatcher to capture canines found “running at large” and put them in a shelter.

Tennity told VPM News she supports the possibility of tightened leash laws — though she enjoys allowing Daisy to be off-leash from time to time.

“She’s got good recall, and she understands the command ‘wait,’” she said.

The Board of Supervisors is slated to discuss the issue at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday.

Kemp walks her dog, Snow, who is trying to find a place to releive themself on a lawn
Shaban Athuman
/
VPM News
Shaunda Kemp, walks her dog Snow, 6, who is experiencing snow for first time, on Monday, January 6, 2025 near Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.

Billy Shields is the Chesterfield County reporter for VPM News.