Push to change Albany leash law for Hoffman Park - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Push to change Albany leash law for Hoffman Park

BY TARYN FITSIK

ALBANY, N.Y.--A push to change the leash law in one Albany city park, where some say the amount of sports and recreational activity is on the rise.

At Monday evening's Albany common council meeting, legislation will be presented to change the leash law for Hoffman Park, located on the corners of Frisbie and McCarty avenues.

As it stands right now, dogs are not required to be on a leash in any city park in Albany, as long as they are under control. But for Hoffman Park, some argue that law needs to be changed 18:30}

"With the amount of use and the amount of people in the park, I don't feel it's a safe thing to have dogs running loose," says common council member Dominick Calsolaro.

Calsolaro says he has received numerous complaints this summer about dogs and the leash law in Hoffman Park.

"I'm for having them always on leashes," says Anthony Myers, who walks his three pitbulls often. "Even with these two, who I know are not vicious at all."

Myers says there are other options for dog owners who want to let their animal off the leash.

"If you want your dog to run around bring them to a dog park," Myers says.

Calsolaro says the park, which also serves as the athletic field for the College of Saint Rose, is more of a sports field than a traditional green space park, and the bottomline is accountability and safety.

"The fields are scheduled for use almost every day, so there's always somebody in the field, and sometimes young children in the playground area."

Calsolaro says his goal is to have the leash law changed for Hoffman Park by September, and until then, hopes dog owners will be responsible.