PB2-18. - Dogs and other domestic animals.

(a) General Rule. No person shall be permitted to take any dog or other domestic animal into any park; unless the dog or domestic animal is restricted at all times by suitable leash not exceeding eight (8) feet in length and under command of owner or custodian. In no case shall any person allow or bring any dog or other domestic animals owned or attended by such person upon any bathing area or into any bird or animal refuge or upon any skating rink or in any park building or into any park waters, whether the animal is leashed or otherwise. Any person having the custody or control of any dog or domestic animal shall have the duty to immediately remove any feces left by such animal on any park and to dispose of such feces in a sanitary manner. It shall furthermore be the duty of each person having custody or control of any dog or domestic animal on a park to have in such person's possession a device or equipment for the picking up and removal of animal feces.

(b)

Exceptions.

(1)

The exceptions of subparagraph (a) shall not apply to a service animal accompanying a person or an animal when used in police or rescue activities by or with the permission of the park and recreation board. The requirement in subparagraph (a) that an animal be restricted by a leash shall not apply in an area designated as an off leash area by the board provided that the person having custody of the animal: is present with the animal; has in his/her possession the required off leash permit; and is acting in compliance with the rules and regulations of the board with regard to such off leash areas.

(2)

No person shall use a designated off leash area without first having obtained from the board a permit for each dog using such an area. Any person using a designated off leash area without first having obtained a permit for each dog shall be subject to the administrative penalties set forth in the schedule of offenses and penalties referred to in PB14-6 hereinafter. A dog deemed a dangerous animal under section 64.110 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, or as a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog as defined under Minnesota Statute 347.50, is not permitted to use off leash areas.

(3)

The annual fee for an off leash area permit shall be set by the board. A resident permit may only be issued upon verification that the dog has been issued a current Minneapolis dog license and verification of rabies vaccination. A non-resident permit may only be issued upon verification of rabies vaccination. Permits shall be valid for twelve (12) months from the date they are issued.

(4)

Upon application for a permit, the applicant shall be provided with the rules for use of off leash areas. As a condition for the issuance of a permit, the applicant shall sign and agree to abide by these rules. A permit may be revoked for failure of the applicant, or any person who takes the dog into an off leash recreation area, to abide by the rules, or of violation of any of the provisions of park board ordinances that occur within an off leash area. Permits may be revoked by the board.

(5)

The person responsible for a dog must have the dog restrained when entering and leaving an off leash area. If so directed by a law enforcement officer, animal control officer, animal warden or park patrol agent, persons using an off leash area must immediately restrain their dogs and remove them from the off leash area.

(c)

Penalties. Every person convicted of a violation of this provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00). (Code 1960, As Amend., § 1010.240; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 76-104, § 1, 7-21-76; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 83-103, § 1, 7-6-83; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 87-102, § 2, 9-2-87; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 96-104, § 1, 10-16-96; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2000-101, § 1, 5-17-00; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2009-104, § 1, 12-16-09; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2011-102, § 1, 10-5-11)