Anaheim Municipal Code Ch. 13.14 Dog Parks

This chapter is known as the “Dog Parks Ordinance,” may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as “this Chapter”. (Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)

The definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this Chapter.

(a) “Director”means the Director of the Department of Community Services or the person designated by the Director of the Department of Community Services as the person responsible for administering the provisions of this Chapter.

(b) “Dog” shall mean and include any canine (Canis familiaris).

(c) “Dog Park” shall mean and include a fenced area in a “public park” (as defined in Section 13.08.010 of this Code), or any portion of a public park, or on any other City-owned land approved and designated exclusively for exercise and recreation for dogs by the City Council.

(d) “Person responsible for a dog” means a person either owning or having the charge, care, control, possession or custody of a dog.

(e) “Vicious dog” means (i) any dog that, as determined by the Director, bites or attempts to bite any human or dog without provocation, or which has a disposition or propensity to attack, bite or menace any human or dog without provocation and endangers the health and safety of any person, or (ii) any dog previously declared vicious pursuant to Section 8.08.090 of this Code, and/or any other State or local law.

(Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)

The prohibition set forth in subsection .010 of Section 13.08.020 of Title 13 of this Code against bringing, leaving, turning loose or allowing to go free any dog in or upon any public park shall not apply to dogs which are in Dog Parks designated by the City Council for the exclusive purpose of exercise and recreation by dogs and so long as the rules and regulations with respect to the use of Dog Parks set forth in this Chapter are followed.

(Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)

.010 The Director is authorized to administer the provisions of this Chapter.

.020 The Director is authorized to establish and change from time to time rules and regulations he or she may deem necessary and advisable to effectuate the purposes of the regulations and limitations set forth in this Chapter. The Director shall consult with the Park and Recreation Commission regarding the adoption or amendment of rules and regulations governing Dog Parks; provided, however, that nothing in this section is intended to limit the City Council’s ability to enact rules and regulations governing the use of Dog Parks.

.030 The hours that members of the general public and dogs may be in Dog Parks shall be set at the discretion of the Director and posted on signage at the entrance(s) to a Dog Park.

.040 Dog Parks may be closed at any time by the Director for the purpose of maintenance, renewal, replacement or restoration, for the conduct of such events as dog obedience classes, or for the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City by posting on signage at the entrance(s) to a Dog Park.

(Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)

The following regulations and limitations apply to the use of all Dog Parks:

.010 The sole or primary purpose of a Dog Park is for the exercise and recreation by dogs that are under the control of an adult and for no other use or purpose. No person other than an adult person responsible for a dog(s) and any other person or child under the age of eighteen (18) who accompanies such adult person shall enter, remain or stay in a Dog Park.

.020 Each dog must be under the control of an adult person responsible for the dog, and not more than three (3) dogs per adult are permitted.

.030 As a condition of admission to a Dog Park, a person responsible for a dog shall use a suitable container or instrument to immediately remove and dispose of feces and shall dispose of it in waste containers provided for that purpose. Any person responsible for a dog in a Dog Park shall have in his or her possession a suitable container or instrument (other than articles of clothing) for the purpose of complying with the requirements of this paragraph. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to unsighted persons being accompanied by a guide dog.

.040 Dogs shall not be left unattended.

.050 Each dog must be under visual and voice control by the person responsible at all times. Dogs that do not respond to voice commands are not permitted.

.060 Female dogs in estrus (heat cycle) are not permitted.

.070 A dog with a known communicable disease is not permitted.

.080 Each dog must have current vaccinations and licenses.

.090 Dogs under four (4) months old are not permitted.

.100 Each dog must wear a flat collar with a visible, current county-registered dog tag. Spiked collars on dogs are not permitted.

.101 Aggressive dogs are not permitted.

.102 Vicious dogs are not permitted. A person responsible for such a dog is legally responsible for any injury caused by his or her dog(s).

.103 A person responsible for a dog must have in his/her possession a leash for the dog which shall be worn by the dog at all times that the dog is ingressing/egressing the Dog Park.

.104 No one shall bring into a Dog Park dog toys of any size or shape, excluding Frisbees and small, retrievable balls.

.105 No one shall play any team sport including, by way of example, but not limited to, football, baseball, soccer, rugby and/or volleyball; however, the use of a frisbee or a small, retrievable ball is permitted.

.106 Equipment, obstacles, or apparatus are not allowed (including, by way of example, but not limited to, skateboards, scooters and/or bicycles); however, wheelchairs and other assistive devices and aids for the disabled are permitted.

.107 Persons under the age of eighteen (18) years are not permitted in any Dog Park, unless accompanied and supervised by an adult, and shall not run, shout, scream, wave their arms, or otherwise excite or antagonize dogs.

.108 No food of any kind (whether human or dog) is permitted.

.109 Professional dog trainers may not use a Dog Park to conduct classes or individual instruction unless permitted by the Director.

.110 Use of any area designated as a “Small Dog Park area” is limited to dogs weighing 25 pounds and under.

.111 Use of any area designated as a “Large Dog Park area” is limited to dogs weighing over 25 pounds.

.112 Certified Service Dogs, of any size, are exempt from dog size restrictions and are allowed in any part of a Dog Park. Certified Service Dogs, because of the training and testing they receive, are allowed to be with and stay with their owner at all times - anywhere the person is allowed to be.

.113 No person shall conduct any activity while in any Dog Park which may pose an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.

.114 No person shall enter, remain, stay or use any Dog Park before or after its set hours of operation.

.115 No animal, other than a dog, is permitted.

.116 The presence of a dog in a Dog Park shall constitute implied consent of the person responsible for the dog to all rules and regulations imposed by this Chapter, as well as those rules and regulations posted by the Director with respect to the use of a Dog Park, and shall constitute a waiver of liability on behalf of a person responsible for a dog to the City of Anaheim, as well as an agreement and undertaking to protect, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City of Anaheim, its officials and employees for any injury or damage or any claim of injury or damage caused by a dog or arising from or in connection with the use of any Dog Park, including but not limited to, injuries arising from dog bites.

.117 Each person entering any Dog Park shall comply with any and all rules and/or regulations set forth in signage posted at the entrance(s) to a Dog Park.

.118 A person responsible for a dog shall provide drinking water for their dog. (Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)

Any City employee may request anyone who violates a posted rule to leave a Dog Park. It is unlawful for any person to fail to leave a Dog Park for violating any posted rule after being requested to do so by a City employee.

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with the provisions of this Chapter. Violation of or noncompliance with this Chapter shall constitute a crime punishable as a misdemeanor or infraction in the discretion of the City Attorney, or may be punished as an administrative matter in accordance with the civil fines and the administrative procedures for the imposition, enforcement, collection, and administrative review of civil fines set forth in Chapter 1.20 (Civil Citations) of this Code.

The remedies and penalties provided herein are cumulative, alternative and non-exclusive. The use of one does not prevent the use of any other criminal, civil or administrative remedy or penalty authorized by, or set forth in, the Anaheim Municipal Code or under state statute which may be available to enforce this Chapter or to abate a public nuisance.

(Ord. 6314 § 1 (part); February 3, 2015.)