POSTED 5:14 PM, MARCH 27, 2019, BY ROOSEVELT LEFTWICH
LAKEWOOD, Ohio– She just wanted to take Boo and Lulu on their daily walk. But for Fay Olson, that walk turned into a brush with the law.
The Lakewood woman was using a retractable leash, the kind she’s used for 20 years.
“I was coming down my driveway and he was already parked, waiting for me. And when I hit the sidewalk, he got out of the van and told me I was being illegal. I haven’t broken a law in 87 years and now I’m illegal,” Olson said.
Last year, Lakewood updated its dog ordinance with guidelines for everything from liability insurance to the type of leash you can use.
Olson said the retractable leash works best for her because her dogs are trained and they respond well to it.
Lakewood city officials declined to comment about the leash part of the ordinance.
Retractable leash bans are already enforced in other places, including San Francisco and California State Parks. Veterinarians also caution the leashes can do harm to dogs.
Cleveland Animal Protective League President Sharon Harvey said she understands why Lakewood and some cities banned them but said it truly comes down to how well an owner has trained their pet.
“Dog owners need to be responsible. They need to be aware of their surroundings. They need to be aware that their dog is properly trained. They need to understand that not every dog is going to like their dog and want their dog running at the end of a leash into their face. It is just thinking ahead, and behaving responsibly and safely,” Harvey said.
Olson said she’s going to continue to fight for her well-trained dogs. She said although the dog warden was kind, she didn’t like being hassled for walking her dogs.
Olson said she has already contacted her councilman and plans to speak to the entire council to see if she can get them to re-evaluate their leash law.
I have to agree with Ms. Olson. Dog walking and training is very personal for the pet owner and her dog(s).
We tried a number of leashes for our pampered and well trained pooch who loved the outdoors. We had the 4 ft, 6 ft, 12 ft, nylon, canvas and leather. The nylon frayed, the leather snapped and the long canvas “lead” was good to let your pet roam a little but it seemed you were constantly coiling it to pull her in when needed plus they needed more frequent washing because they were always dragging on the ground as our per moved around.
The advantages of the retractable leash is that they come in different sizes for small, medium, large and extra large pets so the fit is somewhat customized for your dogs height, weight and strength. They let your pet amble and sniff around yet you can signal your pet to your side quickly when needed. If you are walking briskly the retractable remains taut with a little play in it so you have good control without the ribbon or cable dragging on the ground. While it is true that all retractable a are not created equal it is best to invest in the higher quality brand that is well made and rewards you and your pet with a leash that can last for a couple of years.
Again it’s all in the training.
One last comment. I prefer the ribbon retractable for a small to medium size dog, not so much for your pet’s sake but for the owner while they too are getting used to the retractable. The cable can cause “burns” if you accidentally grab it to pull your pooch closer instead of using the retract button. This is much less likely to happen with the ribbon type. And of course.
Ms.Olson is right about something else as well. Responsible pet owners put some thought into buying a leash and which is best for the pet and the owner. Maybe prospective dog owners should attend some training and behavior classes with their animal but this over policing of responsible pet owners is just going a little too far..,..wouldn’t you say?