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Politics & Government

Prang Warns Dog Owners to Obey Leash and 'Pooper-Scooper' Laws

Violators face fines starting at $250.

Citing a "constant barrage" of complaints about off-leash dogs and canine fecal matter littering West Hollywood neighborhoods, Mayor Jeffrey Prang this week warned that the city will mount an offensive to curb the problem.

Fines range from $250 for the first offense, $450 for a second violation and $850 for three or more.

"If you are one of those people who walk your dog off-leash, if you're one of those people who let your dog mess on the neighborhood and don't clean up after him, you may be getting a citation," Prang said at the City Council meeting on Monday. "It's an important quality of life issue."

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Officers from the West Hollywood Code Compliance Division as well as county Sheriff's deputies and Animal Control personnel will be on the lookout for dog owners who violate the city's ordinances requiring dogs to be on a leash at all times while in public and owners to pick up after their dogs.

"The city of West Hollywood may be the only city that provides doggie waste stations outside of public parks, extending that convenience into our neighborhoods," Prang wrote in his email newsletter. "And, yet there are still some dog guardians that will not pick up after their dogs."

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Dogs in public parks except for Hart Off-Leash Dog Park must be leashed at all times.

"The leash law is intended to protect you and your dog from others that may not have the same gentle disposition," Prang wrote. "A leash allows dog guardians to keep their dogs safely away from one another in cases when they (the dogs) don't like one another. Dogs are frequently injured, often seriously, in such encounters."

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