YARD SIGNS in the City of Midway, including one at the Northside Drive entrance of Walter Bradley Park, remind residents that their dogs must be on a leash at all times. “People walking by those signs and driving by those signs, it just starts to set in with people,” Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said. “And I think it just seems like people are more aware of the issue.” He said he hasn’t heard a single complaint about a dog not being leashed since the signs started being used in early June. (Photo by Bob Vlach)

 

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said yard signs reminding people that “Dogs must be on a leash at all times” have shown to be effective, with some Midway residents even requesting one of the signs to be placed in their yards. 

“It’s a simple, cheap public awareness campaign … and so far it’s working,” said Vandegrift, before adding, “You’ve got to love when something (that addresses a concern of citizens) costs less than $200.” He said he hasn’t been made aware of a single complaint of a dog being unleashed since the signs started being used in early June. 

The signs were placed in public right-of-ways and yards in response to “a lot of complaints” from people walking their dogs after attacks by unleashed dogs, according to Vandegrift. He said some of the attacks over the last year were accidents because they occurred after a dog escaped from a home during a delivery or when the latch on a fence gate was left open. 

Many people who violated an existing city ordinance that requires dogs to be leashed may not have been aware of the ordinance, the mayor said. The signs are there to remind them that it does. 

“I haven’t heard any further complaints (about dog attacks) since the signs went up,” said Vandegrift. He estimated less than 10 signs are currently in public right-of-ways or yards, and also acknowledged a yard sign alone cannot always fix a problem. He noted the topic of dogs being leashed has also been discussed at city council meetings and on social media posts. 

Vandegrift said the fine for violating the dog leash ordinance is $100, but he’s not aware of anyone being fined for having an unleashed dog.