Granted, laws involving unleashed dogs at city parks -- i.e., areas not designated as off-leash areas -- aren't high priorities in the Rainier Valley. When it comes to a police presence at Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street and Genesee Park, the crime-ridden intersection wins in a Nixon-versus-McGovern landslide.Does this mean that the municipal codes requiring owners to tether their dogs should be ignored?
When it comes to Skyler the tan lab-mix: Hell, no. Put a leash and muzzle on that dog.
We saw Sklyer -- the dog's real name -- break away from owner's side around 5:45 pm at Genesee Park... the area on the other side of Genesee where Seafair and the Danskin's triathlon take place. Skyler sprinted about 30 yards and went after a lhaso-looking mix. When the lhasa's owner attempted to pick up his dog, Skyler veered 10-plus yards more and went after my pooch. Growling and bearing fangs, Skyler then lunged at my dog.
Skyler didn't get within biting distance of my dog. Good thing for Skyler that he didn't: I had my container of pepper spray in my hand. And I had no compunction against unleashing a stream of peppery pain in Skyler's face.
Meanwhile, Skyler's owner -- a nondescript, middle-aged woman -- stood at least 60 yards away. "Skyler!" she screamed. "Get back here! Come!" She couldn't be bothered to scramble over and regain control of her dog. Skyler returned to her area, but continued to stalk my dog. "Skyler, leave it!" she screamed. Didn't "leave it" fail five minutes earlier when Skyler broke away?
Irresponsible dog owner, what the hell were you thinking?
She reluctantly leashed up Skyler when it became apparent -- after attempted two attacks -- that he couldn't co-exist with other leashed canines. One suspects that Skyler's behavior this afternoon was the norm versus an exception.
For the edification of Skyler and his inept handler, Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 9.25.084(G) says it is unlawful for an owner "to permit any animal when unprovoked on public or private property to:
(1) Bite a human being causing less than severe injury as defined in SMC 9.25.023E of the Seattle Municipal Code, or bite a domestic animal, or;
(2) Chase or approach a human, on property other than that of the animal's owner, in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of the attack, which may include but is not limited to any one of the following behaviors: snarling, bearing teeth, growling, snapping, pouncing, lunging, attacking or attempting to bite.
Sound familiar, Skyler's owner? Although he looked part lab, Skyler was all Cujo in his demeanor and actions. If Skyler's owner chooses to enforce her dog's right to go off-leash commando and if Skyler sinks his fangs into a human or kills a dog, the human risks running afoul of SMC 12A.06.060, Negligent Control of an Animal:
(1) A person is guilty of negligent control of an animal if he or she has possession, custody or control of an animal that, because of the person's negligence, inflicts bodily injury on or kills another person or another animal.
(2) "Negligence" includes, but is not limited to, failure to comply with or violation of any provision of Section 9.25.083 or Section 9.25.084.
(3) Negligent control of an animal is a gross misdemeanor.
Think we're joking? Check out the Seattle Municipal Code for yourself:
Normally, I don't identify offenders with this much specificity. But aggressive dogs shouldn't be untethered, particularly in public places. The unfortunate thing is that Skyler's owner doesn't appear to find anything aberrant about her canine's behavior... and, worse, doesn't appear to find it necessary to obey the law and keep him on a leash. Perhaps Skyler belongs in his own Skinner box where he can only inflict self harm.
Addendum: A reader asked for a description of Skyler. Here's what I recall: short-coated, tan lab-mix short ears and a long tail. Mostly, I remember curled-up lip, lots of flashing teeth.
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