Know Your Poway 'Petiquette' for the Summer

By Katie Woolsey, The Escondido Humane Society

In my last column I talked about “petiquette,” those unspoken rules that help us and our pets be good citizens and neighbors. But as pet parents, it’s also our responsibility to understand and follow animal laws to keep everyone safe and prevent costly fines and tickets. Here are some animal laws every pet parent should know:

Restraint of dogs: I’ve mentioned many times that one of my pet peeves is dogs running off-leash in undesignated areas. Not only is it dangerous, it’s also against the law. On walks, your dog must be on-leash at all times, and the leash cannot exceed six feet. At home, you must control your dog at all times, whether it’s by voice, electronic pet containment system or a fence or enclosure. You cannot tether an animal to a fixed object for longer than three hours in a 24-hour period. It is permitted for your dog to be on a trolley line as long as he or she can go the full extent of the line and is wearing a harness. In the car, you must safely enclose or protect your dog by a harness or other device that will prevent him or her from falling, jumping or being thrown from the vehicle.

Humane treatment and care: You must provide your pet with adequate shelter, food, water and exercise. It is recommended that your pets be examined by a veterinarian at least once a year.

Rabies vaccinations and dog licensing: All dogs older than 4 months must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed. The first rabies vaccination is good for one year, and the following vaccinations are good for three years. You must purchase a license within 30 days of your dog reaching the age of 4 months; within 30 days of adopting your dog; or within 30 days of entering your jurisdiction. If you don’t obtain or renew your license by the expiration date, it will result in a late fee. The Escondido Humane Society Animal Control Center provides licensing for Poway residents.

Disturbing the peace: It is a public offense for your pet to unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet of the public. There are remedies you can try if your dog is barking constantly, including regular walks, turning on your stereo or TV to drown out noises that may trigger barking and keeping your dog inside at night and when you leave the house.

Public protection from dogs: You are responsible for ensuring that your dog does not harm or endanger the health or safety of people or other animals.

Sanitation: It is a public offense, and poor pet etiquette, to allow your dog to relieve himself on someone else’s property. You must always remove and throw away feces whether it is on public or private property. Sanitation laws also apply to your own property, as you are required to keep your property clean and free of any offensive odors.

Warm weather tip: If you remember one animal law I’ve named here, I hope it’s this one. It is a public offense to leave your animal in an unattended vehicle where the animal is in danger due to high temperatures or lack of sufficient ventilation. On a sunny day, even when the temperature outside is mild, the temperature inside your vehicle can reach deadly levels in a matter of minutes, even with the windows cracked. If you are running errands, leave your pet at home! Shaded parking areas and open windows won't save your pet's life, and animal control agencies like ours have a zero-tolerance policy.

Our Animal Control Department is a resource for you if you have any questions about local laws. You can reach us at 760-888-2275, and we are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Other local animal control agencies: sdhumane.org; sddac.com