Some frequent dog walkers in Elysian Park said they have noticed an increase in the enforcement of off-leash laws. One person named Natasha said officers and their vehicles have been a common sight in and near the park – which runs along the eastern edge of Echo Park and Elysian Heights – since Feb. 13. The officers have issued warnings, $250 tickets and taken other action against offending dog owners, said Natasha by email:
“Is this a way to collect taxes, harassing dog owners? There is also a rumor that they arrested a dog owner who was giving them a hard time. Watch out!”
Senior Lead Officer Joseph Orlanes with the city’s Office of Public Safety, which patrols the parks, said enforcement of off-leash laws has been stepped up in Elysian Park but that has been the case for the past several months now. Also, he said he was unaware of anyone getting arrested as a result of being ticketed or warned about leash-law violations.
Orlanes enforcement was increased following complaints from Recreation and Parks staff as well as residents. “This has been ongoing and will continue,” he said.
Update: New photo above shows an Angeleno Heights woman who was cited for leash-law violations on Sunday, Feb. 13. The woman said she was ticketed even after she had put her dog back on its leash. Another member in her group who did not have a leash for his dog was temporarily handcuffed by an officer and then released.
“He kept asking what’s going on,” the woman said of the man who was handcuffed. “He kept being shut down. They decided that he was not cooperating” and handcuffed him. She said all three persons plans to challenge their tickets.
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So, I’m a person who occasionally lets my dog off leash in Elysian Park. I strongly disapprove of walking dogs off-leash. We’ve had some problems with off leash dogs on the trails. But there’s a spot near the gated area with the pond (event venue?) at the top of a hill where there’s a palm tree that’s grown bent so it functions as a bench. Does anyone else know where I’m referring to? After a million times walking our dog past this spot and always seeing romping dogs, we decided to let ours off leash there and hang around and let the dog play. There are gopher holes all over there for the dog to investigate and bits of palm fronds and sticks for us to throw for her. Anyway, we consider that area an unofficial dog park, unless there are people without dogs enjoying that spot, which we rarely see. I agree that even this is somewhat inconsiderate of people in the park who do not like dogs or whose leashed dogs might be spooked when my dog comes over to sniff. But we’ve found this sort of happy medium between letting our dog have some free play in the park and being considerate of others. Curious what the rest of the commenters think of this, since opinions are so strongly held here.
I really love seeing all the off leash dogs- I think it’s fun to watch the dogs run off trail and goof off together. It is one of my favorite features of living in Echo Park. I know many of the dogs by name and have met lots of fun and interesting people by meeting their dogs first. I understand that there are many risks and I respect that it is not comfortable for everyone, but I will miss the morning crew of unleashed K9 hikers.
@Bettina
Are you seriously making the argument that an off the leash dog falls under the category of “…people doing things we don’t like” and that it doesn’t ” give us a right to try and control their behavior?”???
A dog off the leash is more than merely “something people don’t like” – it’s a potential threat to both dogs and humans. It doesn’t matter if you’re dog is sweet as pie, because ultimately there’s NO WAY for ME to know that, and it’s totally unfair to subject someone to that level of discomfort. I for one experience extreme panic when I go for a walk in my neighborhood and encounter a german shepherd someone has allowed to just roam around (which is unfortunately not infrequent). This is not an unfounded fear, as I know MANY people who have been bitten or attacked by dogs. Would you be slightly concerned if you were alone and encountered someone with a gun or knife but they said “don’t worry, I’m nice?” Stop being so delusional!!
And how is it in any way comparable to having concern for another person putting their safety at risk by using ear buds on the trail? That association has no logic.
I don’t know why you think you are entitled to public land for your dog to frolic, but I think you need to realize that it was your choice to adopt an animal that has said needs. If you don’t have a yard or access to a dog park or another property where it is LEGAL for the dog to be off the leash, you unfortunately have made an ill-advised and irresponsible decision for both your self and the dog. I know plenty of people who would LOVE to own a dog, but realize that they don’t have the necessary space. The city makes no promises of providing land for dog owners. As you yourself said, we live in a crowded city, so maybe a large/active dog isn’t the best pet.
After my leashed dog and I were jumped by an off-leash dog this morning on my run in Elysian Park I do feel the need to support the pro-leash support in the comments. I have been running almost daily in Elysian Park for 18 years and agree with Kiki about the safety of Elysian over the years. It just seemed that “back in the day” it was a community as we all knew each other from walking regularly in the park. We said “hi” as we passed on the trail, sometimes stopping to chat and many friends were made during those early years. Yes, folks are plugged into their iPods/iPhones but remember Walkmans? The difference is eye contact. A smile or a nod in passing immediately takes away the “us and them” mentality. Issues with off-leash dogs have existed as long as I have been a user of the park. I won’t go into the numerous times I have been tripped by spastic dogs and the bites to my leashed dogs by off-leashed canines. It is worse than before with the heavier use the park now gets. I say no to off-leash hours but yes to establishing an off-leash area/trail on the east end of the park. Let the out-of-control off-leash dogs chase away the cruising zombies and it is a win-win for everyone.
Unleashed dogs are a safety concern. An aspect of our legal system is based the principle of substantive due process, involving unenuerated rights. Therefore, safety is basically the trump card… Leash wins.
I am glad there is a place where people can have a lively debate about neighborhood issues, but please stop bickering about trivial problems.
Let’s focus on some of the problems like violence and (hard) drug dealing. I would also appreciate this kind of debate on the zoning decisions that have been happening in the City’s Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM).
Civility is free,
Dog owner, EP since 98.
Why would anyone who hates dogs want to walk the one trail in Elysian Park where dogs have been running happily for years? The answer is one of simple neighborly etiquette. We will stay on the loop at Academy/Morton and you can have the whole rest of the park. Comments about what is and isn’t legal miss the point. We are a community of park users who (as a community) should remain incentivized to find a solution that keep everyone using the park.
I dont really care either way but I guess if I had to choose I would say put em on a leash.
Im more worried about the off leash sexing in the bushes that leaves condoms on the trail.
Well I’ve lived in Echo Park, next to Elysian Park, off and on, but mostly on, since before the Korean War. I’m likely the third longest resident of Park Drive when the years are added up. I generally dislike that we have been “discovered” up here and that the park and its trails have become a de-facto dog walking compound, leashed or unleashed. Large dogs on the street have threatened me, walkers have dumped dog droppings in my trash cans or left same along the street, littering has increased dramatically, as has traffic and noise. So, at the very least, please leash ALL dogs at ALL times and take the dog shit home and not leave it on the hill(s) or park in or outside of a trash can.
I miss the old days of being able to ride my dirt motorcycle on park trails, days of not fearing stepping in a pile of feces, and days of not worrying about an ear-budded jogger or walker crashing into me. I am also tired of open fire laws not being enforced during the summer in the park (true, just ask me and the LAFD) and spontaneous gatherings of large social groups without license. Perhaps one answer is a permit to use the park in any manner, a license, if you will, say $50.00 per year. Then only the serious and responsible will use the park. The unwashed and scufflaws would then do well to work to earn the privilege of using the park. This would be similiar to what is required to use National Forest Lands.
Those living on streets bordering the park would be exempt from the permit fee, as would all individuals above age 62. Mountain bikers would be encouraged to use designated trails (mountain bikes don’t leave crap or make noise or bite, btw) and a license fee of $10.00 bucks per year per bike could be charged. All collected revenues would go to help better maintain streets in the Elysian Heights area that has seen increased traffic due to the attraction of Elysian Park’s trails.
Uh , No “echo park dog owner ”
Emphatic NO!
I don’t hate dogs just what has become of Elysian Park .
EVERYONE has EVERY right to use that trail if you have a dog or not !
Like 30 years ago and up until like 5 years ago Beforrrrrree the trails were over run with dog owners and off leash dogs , waaayyy befoire , say before you moved here from the valley ? it was peaceful .
I don’t know what the hell “years ” that dogs ran happily in the park you are talking about !
“We are a community” but segregate and let us have “morton/academy trail ”
Yeah nice thinking, and contradictory .
How about putting your dog on a leash , this way everyone can use the park .
Its way out of control !
It’s interesting (and encouraging) to see all these pro-leash comments, seeing as I walk my dog in Elysian every morning and I am definitely in the minority with our leash.
Here’s the thing, my dog is sort of a jerk, especially when another dog is pummeling towards her, off the leash, pretty much uncontrolled. Some people have their dogs pretty well-managed, but even a well-managed dog can get pissed off and vicious when it meets my dog. And since the LAW is that we keep them leashed, I should be allowed to walk my dog, even if she acts like a jerk. Because I can control her. When all of us keep our dogs on a leash.
Up until very recently I was pretty laissez-faire about the whole on/off leash thing. While some dogs were a nuisance (getting in my way, etc) I was willing to turn a blind eye because it was not a big deal.
Now I have a problem with off-leash dogs and I am glad to see the tickets handed out.
My son is a year and a half old and he and I like to walk the trails every once in a while. Needless to say he is little. This is a problem when a dog that is bigger than him runs up to him. I can tell that some dogs are friendly, so I am not uncomfortable – but it is not always clear.
That’s not cool at all. But I can *almost* ignore it. What kills the deal is the owners’ sense of entitlement – it is almost like they are acting like I should have my kid on a leash. It’s pretty fucking shocking, really. Never apologetic and rarely quick enough on the draw to prevent something bad from happening should the need arise. Rarely do they appreciate the concerns that I might have, it’s always “Oh, don’t worry! He’s friendly!”. I mean even going through the motions to address my concerns would go far but that seems lost on some of these people.
Point is: the tickets will ideally put some of these people back in check. And then after this wave of ticketing is over, they will think about how they relate to other users of the park.
Glad to see that for the most part people here agree. I do like the idea that someone put forward about a designated time for off leash walking.
PS: that hill above Grace E. Simons, with the palm trees? It is not a de facto off-leash area. Save yourself trouble: keep the dogs on a leash, there too.
Seriously, you are going to fight your ticket because you put your dog back on the leash when stopped by the cop?
“Yeah, I was speeding but now I’m not!”
Pay the ticket and keep your dog on the leash crybaby.
Here’s a thought for those here who see the crime as victimless and its enforcement wasteful (and perhaps even discriminatory), and who advocate in favor of exploring ways to make it legal, either throughout the park or in a section of it:
To those people who’ve commented here about how as a community we should not impinge or restrict anyone’s enjoyment of the park and should remain vigilant and motivated toward making it a recreational resource accessible to and enjoyable by all, I invite you to swap out one prohibited activity for another. Simply replace “off leash dog walking” with “mountain biking,” and then surprise me by not changing your tune.
@J.T
Great angle and RIGHT ON on every point !
Especially on the entitlement tip
Like if you don’t have a dog you don’t have a right to be on the trails .
Agreed, the DE FACTO area by the palm trees ? It is a public park , not an off leash dog park !
Get in your car and drive or better yet , WALK your dog ON LEASH to the nearest dog park !
I’m so relieved to see all of this support for leash laws. I rescued a dog several months ago who is sweet and well-managed but fearful. After several unpleasant events on the trail with unleashed dogs (whose owners were often not even in sight) we’ve had to give up our nightly hikes in the park. I wish that the dog owners that so firmly support their right to walk their dogs off-leash could consider my right to use a public park without fear for the safety of myself and my dog. And to also consider that rescued dogs have a right to be there, too–few of them will ever be confident enough to be secure when approached by an off-leash dog. That said, the hill is a great place for those dogs to run around and be social and have fun. But on the trail, the same dogs need to be leashed. The man who was handcuffed didn’t even have a leash for his dog?? I hope his fine is EPIC.
Please remember that there are budget and priority issues with the Police Department. As officers are ticketing your neighbors for leash laws, they are not investigating serious crime in the community (like the shooting last night). It seems hard to believe that people would rather have officers patrolling Elysian Park trails, than looking into robberies, burglaries and gang issues in our community.
Pro lease. Have you see a small dog killed by a larger dog in Elysian Park, I have.
And several others who, like me, were at a yard sale on Sargent Pl. We heard terrible screams from a woman, we rushed to the railing over Morton, sounded like a rape in progress and there below where Morton hits the trail up was a woman witnessing her tiny dog being thrashed and ripped to death by what may have been a pit bull. Tiny thing was being shook like a teddy bear.
A Latino man in his truck tried to ram the pit, honked his horn, the woman was helpless and screaming, we could nothing but witness. The small dog was tossed a final time, believe it was dead at that point. Pit runs off.
Latino man in truck helps woman lift dog and they race off, I hope to a happy ending but am pretty sure it was dead or far beyond medical help. Pit with bloody muzzle jogged away, it looked happy with itself.
This incident occurred over 10 years ago but I seldom remember it till dog talk comes up, like this thread.
Laws are enacted because they are needed, that’s the short story.
Andres brings up a great point about budget/resource restrictions, but he seems to take issue with those supporting its enforcement rather than against those who are creating and sustaining its enforcement.
I’d argue that instead of finding fault in those who are in favor of the police activity he should be directing his disdain at those who have brought it about. Because the sooner and more consistently that people abide by the law the sooner our police officers can turn their focus away from the trails and to the more serious crimes occurring in the community.
For all you curmudgeons lamenting the unleashed dogs-it’s only going to get worse once Echo Park closes-so get used to it-or go somewhere else where there are no unleashed dogs.
Like Hell.
Please refrain from saying a pitbull may have attacked a tiny dog if you do not know what breed the dog truly was.
Pro-leash.
One clarification. These are not LAPD officers. These are the Office of Public Safety (OPS), General Service Department Officers (GSD). If you notice their uniforms have a patch. LAPD do not. Their whole purpose is to patrol Parks, and Public places. So they actually are doing what they are supposed to do–enforcing park ordinances like off leash violations, cruising, loitering, homeless camp removals, and drinking and smoking in the parks for instance. They exist so LAPD can concentrate on more serious crimes. We get a monthly GSD crime and enforcement report at our CCSEP (Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park) meetings. First wed of the month, 7pm. Barlow Hospital, Williams Hall.
Just wanted to clarify the enforcement point.
cp
@ Pitbull Mama, have owned dogs, know dogs and I was being gentle — it was a pit bull, a vicious, ugly mean pit bull.
You can tell I don’t like the breed. One doesn’t need to love every breed fo canine. If I can predict where this is heading, “pits aren’t vicious,” tell me how many Golden retrievers are involved in such attacks…..
Does anyone have the contact for OPS and GSD to write or call them? I would personally like to thank them for their efforts in Elysian Park. Anytime I see one of them ticketing I do go over and thank them personally, but I’d like to do it in writing.
I am starting a fan club for WILL CAMPBELL! Everyday on this thing!!!
The police (and Council offices especially) DO respond to large numbers of complaints, that’s one of the best ways to get things done. Clearly someone has been complaining about the off-leash dogs, moreso than people are complaining about the cruisers (probably because no one goes over there). Start calling and complaining about them and we might see increased enforcement on that issue too.
Sometimes twice a day, “Fan.” Three or four if you count my fake names!
So glad the leash law is being enforced! Elysian Park is beautiful terrain for the people to enjoy. If you want a dog park, go to the dog park in Silverlake. Sick of dogs barking, fighting, jumping on me, tearing up hillsides, etc. It’s totally out of control Pitbulls off leash, jumping on me with my newborn, that’s what I think of when I think of Elysian Park these days. And these people with a self righteous sense that dogs are people too. They aren’t. And they destroy natural areas.
Always appreciate the intelligent responses. How sad that some people on this posting site feel the need to act out and get nasty. Says more about their personal problems than the issue they are commenting on. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion to be expressed in an appropriate way. Isn’t that the purpose of a sharing forum?
- Bettina
@toppyteo
Intelligent responses like saying your are “personally offended” when people have earbuds on ? Says a lot about YOUR personal problems ! Speak for yourself .
Plus, you obviously know nothing about the park .
Elysian Park has always been a great place not a scary park like you described in your previous post .
Let me start by saying that I grew up in Echo Park and have lived here my whole life. I love dogs, I have a dog and walk her in the park with a leash. There is no question about it, it’s illegal to walk dogs of the leash in this park. The park is not segregated, there is no “dog only” area- the park is for the use of all LA citizens. This includes small children and people who are afraid of dogs. No matter how much you feel your dog is your baby, a dog is an animal and you never know what it might do. It is not fair to the rest of the community to have dogs off leash, especially with the owners ignoring/not having control over the dog.
The last time I was on a walk with my leashed dog a gentleman had two large dogs off the leash that ran straight towards my dog and almost attacked it. The guy did nothing, did not even look up. A dog on a leash that is being attacked by other dogs will lash out and my dog tried. I was being responsible whereas the other guy was not. Another time, my senior mother was walking her dog on leash, other off leash dogs ran up to it, her dog reared up and she was knocked over. Now she tries to find a time when there aren’t many other people out. Lastly, a little girl on my street was attacked by an off leash pit bull who bit her on the chest. She was bleeding profusely, mom was screaming, neighbors were out with- a knife, a gun, and a baseball bat. All it took was me pouring a bucket of water on the dog who finally let go. She was taken to the hospital and almost died. THE DOG WAS OFF LEASH!!
Keep the dogs on leash, it’s the law and it’s there for a reason. Find an off leash dog park if it’s so important to you. It’s too bad that so many police are out there ticketing and wasting our money on this task, however, people are not paying attention any other way. Are you paying attention now?
And yes, would it hurt so much to just say hello or acknowledge another human being? I try to be positive about our neighborhood changes, but at least in the old days with gangbangers and cholos everyone said hello.
I walk with a group in Elysian Park almost every Tuesday. Happy dogs greet us, which adds to the pleasure of the walk. It seems like all of the off-leash dogs are pretty much under control of their owners. On-leash dogs ALSO bark at and annoy people. In fact it is mostly on-leash dogs that bark and are annoying. I guess they are on-leash because they are poorly behaved or just annoying because they are so unhappy at being on a leash. People obviously need to be courteous and leash any dog which is ill-behaved. I love the dogs and never had a problem in the park over many years. I guess all the vicious and dangerous out-of-control dogs that people are writing about take Tuesday off.
Well, Darrell, I’m sorry you have such a bias against pitbulls. I have had both breeds and all have been wonderful, loving dogs.
Because of some people’s misperceptions about the breed and because I am a responsible owner, my dogs are always on a leash in a city park. Period.
There are many other parks in LA besides Elysian that are just as nice or better. I hope those of you that prefer Elysian can come to some sort of peace over all this.
L. Spangler- It doesn’t matter if the dog isn’t ‘ill behaved’, the point is that only the owner knows the dog and it’s not fair to put passers by in the position of wondering if it’s a potential threat. Also, the definition of ‘ill-behaved’ is pretty subjective, like with those dog owners who say “don’t worry, he/she’s friendly!” when their dog runs over to me and starts licking me/sniffing my crotch/jumping up on me or whatever. I really don’t care if your dog is the reincarnation of Buddha, get that thing off of me! Not everyone enjoys those encounters.
Pittie Mama – Regarding “some people’s misperceptions about the breed “: pitbulls have a reputation for brutality because there have been many MANY cases if it happening! I get that you have had some great dogs, and of course not all pitbulls are vicious and it depends on the owner yada yada, but come on, are you really going to say it’s a ‘misperception’ that they are involved in violent attacks more so than most breeds??
@L. Spangler: It seems clear that you are not a dog owner, or at least not an informed one. To assume that on-leash dogs have behavioral problems is incredibly ignorant. The only thing you can assume about an on-leash dog is that it has a responsible owner. If you knew the first thing about dogs you’d know that it is dangerous to have dogs that are on-leash (as required by law and common sense) in the same space as dogs that are not. That’s when you get fear, and fear is what makes them bark, lunge, and sometimes become violent. This is why there are fenced dog parks where EVERY dog can (and must be) off-leash. It’s great that you enjoy dogs you don’t know approaching you–try taking that same walk with a pet of your own and see how much you enjoy it. Actually, come to think of it, that would be a great thing to do before weighing in with any further offensive assumptions.
A couple of years ago two dog owners got their faces bit off by thier own dogs. I think that one of the dogs was a Lab, and in that case the dog bit the owner when she was asleep. You can say that your dog is well behaved, but the dog is still an animal that can snap. I keep my 4 month old puppy on leash. He is Shibu Inu, and they are known to not like other dogs. My new neighbor let his bulldog/pit mix off leash, and he ran up to us. I picked up my puppy, and he growled at the dog and the dog growled back. I thought that he was going to attack us. I was about to pull out my knife to protect myself & my puppy, but then the owner called his dog back. I estimate that his dog was about 90 lbs., and when he ran up he seemed friendly, until my puppy growled at him. Bottom line is that dogs are unpredictable. You will be sorry on the day that your dog does bite someone, and your stupid ass gets sued. You will cry when they try to put down your dog for bitting someone. By the way don’t cry when you do get a ticket as well, because they should give additional tickets to the owners for being dumb. Get a clue.
So glad that this leash/dog impactation in Elysian Park has been presented at this forum. Am glad that most people are pro-leash and not anti-dog. I also propose that dog walkers from out of area NOT be allowd to park on streets bordering Elysian Park. So many do so and impinge upon valuable and limited parking resources, e.g., on the north end of Park Drive. This creates safety issues (fire, police services), extra trash issues (not everybody can police his/her environment perfectly, not done via volition, the inadvertent trash) and an impactation upon the informed that live on this street and need to park on the street and, for example, take groceries into their homes. I propose that those who walk leashed dogs in the park be assigned to park elsewhere, e.g., in the parking lot of and adjoining Grace Simons Lodge. I also think a fenced area to allow unleashed dogs to romp would be appropriate.
I feel those of us that live on a street adjoining the park are now subjected to a situation (due to numerous dogs) akin to the loading and unloading of chattel..in this case, not bovines or animals of the equestrian persuasions, but canines. But given the numbers, the impact, odor, noise, potential danger, and inconvenience is just as impractical as that one could find in an area zoned (as) “horse property.” Dogs and dog walkers on Park Drive, for example, are impacting a peaceful environment to a degree that degrades our quiet and serene lifestyle. There are very simple solutions to this problem and I am sure that most avid and responsible dog owners can respond with good will and help seek an objective solution for all.
Respectfully Submitted,
David Buchman
Echo Park has become Santa Monica. It’s over… Nevermind the dog, beware of owner. Bla bla bla bla… boring.
I think joggers and stroller-pushers should be ticketed.
Go gentrify the next East side town already!
Kevin and JAC: You are so right on; I am waiting for the first Gelatto Botique featuring Gelatto and baked deserts that have been “drizzled” with various organic syrups. Likely such a “shop” will open in a defunct used appliace or clothing store IMO.
Yes, misperception and sometimes just plain ignorance.
And Kevin, LOL!! I agree….
^^^ So then what exactly is the misperception (according to you), and what is the truth?? Is it a misperception that pitbulls have the potential to be vicious, or just that it happens as frequently as you think people believe it to?
Without any clarification/expansion upon that, it kind of just sounds like you’re saying ‘nuh UH!’, which isn’t really a very effective way to make your point.
And once again, the weird Echo Park brand of xenophobia appears…
It’s not that pit bulls are more disposed to being aggressive. It’s that when they are aggressive, they have the physical power to do serious damage. If you raise an angry chihuahua, it’ll bite a lot of ankles. If you raise an angry pit bull, it could kill someone.
Eliah is exactly right.
And Great White Sharks prefer only ocean mammals for food.
Unfortunate when they mistake a human for a seal or sea lion, like pit bulls mistake toddlers for…what?
C’mon, they bite and like it. And don’t like to let go.
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