Green Dog Program
Melrose, Massachusetts
DRAFT
The Green Dog Program of Melrose could be an innovative approach to meeting our dogs’ and dog owners’ desire to have time off-leash, while sharing the spaces seamlessly with other park users in our urban community. Pending approval, the City of Melrose would conduct a pilot program at three off-leash areas across the city, with specific off-leash hours established by the Melrose Park Commission. Dog owners are allowed to play with and train their dogs off-leash during these designated times following the program criteria and rules. The pilot program will begin on DATE and will be reassessed by the Park Commission on DATE. The Melrose Canine Control Officer will monitor compliance with the Green Dogs criteria and rules, and prepare an assessment at the end of the pilot program for the Park Commission. The draft proposed hours are:
Common M-F (7:00-9:00 am &
7:00-9:00 pm), Sat-Sun (7:00-7:45 am & 6:00-8:00 pm)
Franklin M-F (7:00-9:00 am & 7:00-9:00 pm), Sat-Sun (7:00-7:45 am
& 6:00-8:00 pm)
Hesseltine M-F (7:00-7:45 am & 7:00-9:00 pm), Sat-Sun (7:00-7:45 am & 6:00-8:00 pm)
The City of Melrose and the Melrose Dog Society will help promote a successful dog program. Each Green Dog Park will have a liaison that will:
· Promote, enlist and encourage others to promote a successful program.
· Answer questions and attempt to resolve issues.
· Receive and forward comments, complaints, unresolved issues, suggestions and general information from dog walkers and abutters to the Melrose Canine Control Officer and Melrose Dog Society. See contacts below.
· Report abuses to the Canine Control Officer and Melrose Dog Society.
To help ensure that our residents, visitors and dogs enjoy a quality experience, participants must meet these criteria and follow these rules. Failure to comply may jeopardize the Green Dog Program.
1. Aggressive dogs are not permitted on or off-leash.
2. Dogs must be at least four months old to participate in the program.
3. Dogs in heat are not allowed off-leash.
4. Dogs must be healthy (no contagious conditions, diseases, or parasites).
5. Only dogs licensed in their home city and with an up-to-date rabies tag are permitted off leash.
6. Dogs must have the following info on their collar: dog license tag, rabies tag, home address and contact phone number.
1. Dogs are only allowed off leash at participating parks at established hours.
2. Dogs must be on leash until they are inside the park. Keep your leash on hand at all times.
3. One dog walker may walk no more than two dogs and the dog walker must have a separate leash for each dog.
4. Aim to improve neighborhood relations and the overall condition at the parks. Sweep the parks during daylight hours to pick up litter and any missed dog waste from others.
5. Dog walkers must carry at least two waste pick-up bags per dog and must pick up and properly dispose of their dog(s) waste. Encourage others to do the same and pick up others when necessary.
6. Dog walkers must carry a flashlight during dusk or dark hours to aid finding dog waste. Car lights must switched off immediately after parking.
7. Dogs must be in sight at all times.
8. Dog walkers must fill in holes with the loam supplied at each park and report any poor or unsafe field conditions to the Melrose Park Department.
9. No barking dogs. Barking disturbs neighbors and will jeopardize the Green Dog program.
10. Dog walkers must have their dogs under control and under voice control at all times (dog responds to and obeys your verbal commands).
11. Dogs may not harass, bully, or show continued aggression towards other dogs, and must be immediately leashed and controlled from affecting others.
12. Dogs are not allowed to approach other visitors unless invited to do so. Be mindful of your dog so that other park visitors, children, and their dogs are not anxious about their safety. Many people (and sometimes other dogs) do not like unfamiliar dogs.
13. Dogs not able to obey Rules 10 - 12 must participate in a “Come When Called” training program to be allowed off leash. Contact the Melrose Canine Control Officer.
14. Check for park closed signs or crews working in the park, which means off-leash hours are suspended.
15. Check these sites for property-specific or updated Green Dogs regulations before your visit:
www.cityofmelrose.org/departments/animalcontrol.htm & www.melrosedogsociety.org.
16. Report Green Dog Program violations to the Melrose Canine Control Officer.
17. Report aggressive dogs to the Melrose Police Department.
III. Contacts
Melrose Canine Control Officer dkurkjian@cityofmelrose.org 781-979-4102
Melrose Park Department jbell@cityofmelrose.org 781 662-9511
Melrose Police Department 781-665-1212
Melrose Dog Society info@melrosedogsociety.org