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Asheville's dog owners just got "reined in" a bit by the City. October 1, 2002, marked the first day for some changes to Asheville's current leash laws, making it necessary to keep dogs on leashes whenever they are on public property (or on someone else's property other than the dog owner's). Other additions include requiring dog owners to get licenses for their pets ($10, available online at the City's web site - www.ci.asheville.nc.us/forms/dog20license.pdf - or in person on the first floor of the City Building), requiring a permit for owning more than six dogs, and allowing police officers to cite owners for their dogs' nuisance behavior (for example, constant barking).While some dog owners were unhappy about the additions to the current law, other residents, both those with and without dogs, applauded the changes. Most dogs do not present a threat to the public or to other animals, but some breeds - or specific dogs - behave in very aggressive, territorial ways (see second photo below), creating dangerous situations not only for other dogs, but for people as well. Some owners object to having to leash their docile animal, saying their dogs are harmless. Of course, there is no way to predict what any dog will do under certain circumstances, and the law must apply to all equally, so all dog owners are required to abide by the dog laws, regardless of the dog's temperament, age, or breed.
The increased presence of dogs is particularly noticeable in recent years in the downtown area, where many dog owners have enjoyed tying their dogs to public artwork, benches, and fountains while the owner shopped or relaxed nearby. Those days are gone. In the future, police officers will cite dog owners when they tie their pets up to public property (or private property, if the dog owner is not the owner of the property as well). Following an open-ended period of time for adjusting to the new laws, police officers will begin issuing citations ($50 civil citation for the first offense). The changes to the law have been put in place in an effort to restore order to a situation that was slowly climbing out of control. On some weekend days, certain sidewalks in downtown Asheville were impassable due to the number of dogs that were tied up - without an owner in sight. The Asheville Police Department, who is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the new laws, will work to educate and inform dog owners and work with them to find alternatives. For the convenience of dog owners, applications for City dog licenses will be sent out with the next round of water bills. For more information on the changes in the law or to report animal control problems, please call the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110.
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Dog owners in city neighborhoods have the option of leaving their dogs indoors, tying them to something in their yard, providing a dog run, or investing in an electronic fencing devise to keep their dogs restrained.