Bainbridge council talk turns to off-leash dogs

Published 1:12 pm Saturday, February 7, 2015

The Bainbridge Island City Council will again take up the testy topic of off-leash animals next week.

The council will host a work session on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and the agenda includes the discussion on newly revised regulations on off-leash dogs.

City officials said the reworked ordinance has been changed to specifically focus on dogs at-large on public property, as opposed to animals in general. The ordinance will require that dogs be on leash on public property (and private property not owned or leased by the dog’s owner), unless in an authorized off-leash area.

The work session will be in council chambers at city hall, and is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:05 p.m. Public comment will be accepted, and city officials encourage community members to attend.

Members of the public who are unable to attend the session but would like to submit comment can send an email to council@bainbridgewa.gov, or drop off written input at city hall.

Officials said the proposed ordinance which will be available in the council packet on the city website in advance of the Tuesday meeting.