Phoenix residents not walking dogs on park trails in 100-plus temperatures
Jul 25, 2018, 4:05 AM
(Pexels photo)
PHOENIX — Dog owners in Phoenix appear to be following a city ordinance that prohibits dogs on park trails in 100-plus degree temperatures.
Phoenix Parks and Recreation spokesman Gregg Bach said the department has not issued any citations this summer.
“The effort of our rangers, really, is one of compliance through education,” Bach said.
This comes amid news that Phoenix has broken or tied daily heat records for two days in a row: The city broke its daily heat record for July 23 after recording 115 degrees on Monday and broke its daily heat record at 116 degrees on Tuesday. That day also marked the hottest day of the year.
The policy began after the Parks and Recreation Board approved a three-month pilot program in the summer of 2016.
It was so successful, Bach said, that it was voted upon as a city ordinance last year.
However, if you are caught, there is a price to pay: “It will be a Class 1 misdemeanor (and) could carry with it a fine of up to $2,500 and six months in jail,” Bach added.
There are three trails in Phoenix — Cholla, Piestewa Peak and Echo Canyon — are completely off-limits to dogs.
City officials said too many owners were letting their pets off their leashes and too many dogs were also in heat danger.
Bach said the devastating summer heat can seriously affect animals — especially dogs, which do not sweat the way humans do.
According to HillsPet.com, heat exhaustion in dogs can happen at temperatures starting at 103 degrees, while 106-plus degrees puts the animal in danger of heat stroke, which can cause organs to shut down.