Ocean City Mayor Urges People To Keep Dogs Leashed

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Even if their bark is worse than their bite, they have to stay on a leash. Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian has received multiple complaints about dog parents around Ocean City letting their pets roam without leashes.

Gillian wants to work with the Humane Society of Ocean City — the local animal shelter — to communicate with dog owners about following Ocean City's rules. The mayor said at Thursday's City Council meeting he would prefer to try an educational approach before increasing discipline.

"We’ve had extra police officers out on the beach trying to enforce it," Gillian said. "We’re trying to be nice, be kind. But I have a lot of residents calling me, telling me they want me to put the hammer down on some of these people."

Dogs are allowed on the beach from Oct. 1 through April 30 but must remain leashed. Violators may face fines of up to $500. Ocean City prohibits dogs from the boardwalk all year.

An unleashed dog bit Gillian's wife a couple years ago around their neighborhood, he says. Gillian asked dog owners to practice responsibility with their pets.

"We have a lot of great dogs, and it’s a great community and all that kind of stuff," he said. "But I always ask, just think about the one person who is scared to death, that you just ruined their day because they’ve seen a dog that’s not on a leash."

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