McCracken Leash Law Under Consideration

McCracken County Fiscal Court commissioners may soon consider a countywide leash law.
 
Commissioner Jerry Beyer told the Paducah Sun that he has received numerous phone calls from residents concerned about loose dogs in the county. Beyer says little can be done about the situation because no leash law currently exists outside of Paducah's city limits.

Beyer said the calls he has received came from residents in county subdivisions who have seen neighbors’ dogs in their yards doing things like knocking down trash cans.
 
Judge-Executive Van Newberry said that a county ordinance already covers dogs that growl, bark and create significant property damage, but not dogs that are simply running loose. Newberry said animal control officers usually have to see a dog acting as a nuisance before they can pick it up.
 
A Paducah city ordinance requires all dogs to be on a leash while in public, and fenced in on private properties. The ordinance also lets animal control officers pick up dogs running loose inside city limits.
 
Beyer said that he has also requested copies of leash laws from other counties to use as examples. At the Fiscal Court’s Jan. 14 meeting, Beyer suggested scheduling a public workshop to discuss a possible county leash law. He said he is planning on bringing it up again at the next meeting, scheduled for Monday.