PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Dog owners not only have a responsibility to protect their pets, but also a responsibility to keep other people safe.
Recently, there have been several reported dog attacks in the Hampton Roads area within the past year.
Back in April, a woman died in Portsmouth after being mauled by three dogs, who were later humanely euthanized. In late October, another woman in Norfolk was attacked by two Rottweilers in her neighborhood while out on a walk.
“I didn’t know if it was coming up to smell me,” she said, remembering the attack. “I knew he wasn’t smelling me out by the time he got close ’cause they were growling.”
Both of those incidents, as well as other attacks like them, could have been prevented by responsible pet ownership.
That’s where leash laws come into play.
The laws can differ depending on what city or area you’re in, but in Hampton Roads — if you’re not on your own property and in a public space, your animal must be kept on a leash.
Laeklyn Shaffer with Zoom Room Dog Training said the type of leash should also matter. She recommends a no-pull harness.
“What that’s going to do is help redirect your dog 180 degrees if they do start pulling,” Shaffer said. “So, it helps manage their behavior, makes it a little harder for them to put all their weight into it and pull.”
She also told 10 On Your Side that, before you take your dog off of a leash within the parameters of the law, a lot of training must be done.
“A recall is definitely one of the main behaviors I would train and want to make really strong,” Shaffer said. “Saying it once is going to be key.”
Adam Blankship, Animal Enforcement Supervisor with the City of Virginia Beach, spoke to the importance of leash laws.
“At least having a dog on a leash, both parties can then keep the dogs separate so that we avoid any bites or incidents,” Blankship said.
He said every situation is different, but if someone is bit by a dog who is off leash, the owner would be held accountable, facing a possibility of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
“If we felt that it rose to the level of issuing an at large charge or leash law violation, then that officer could issue a summons and go before the courts,” Blankship said.
Matt Wurzburger with the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals added to that, saying responsible pet ownership is something they preach to all of their adopters.
“You don’t know for certain how your dog might react to situations, and you certainly don’t know how other dogs are going to react to situations. So, keeping them on a leash is vital to be able to control the environment and keep them out of the situation where they might get into trouble, or they might run off or get lost or something like that,” Wurzburger said.
Blankship provided some safety tips in the event someone sees an aggressive dog running up to them without a leash. He advises people to stay calm, don’t run and even try some commands.