This Easy Law In Montana Is Constantly Broken

We have seen some oddly warm weather the last couple of weeks, and it's just going to get warmer. That means more people, more tourists, and more dogs.

There are more dog parks in Bozeman than there are actual children's playgrounds, but like the children's parks there are rules to be followed. It's common courtesy to have your kids behave and same goes for your pets.

With that being said, there is one particular law that is constantly broken throughout the city that needs to be addressed once again before a bunch of people start piling in. This law goes for those that live here as well.

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As a dog owner myself, I will do anything to keep my sweet Dingo safe and that means following the rules.

You may trust your dog to be off their leash as you run or walk, but that doesn't mean that they are safe. This is the reason that there is a leash law in Bozeman. This law states specifically for both cats and dogs:

Pets in the city of Bozeman must be leashed at all time on public property unless within the boundaries of the designated off-leash park. -Bozeman.net

Penalty for an off-leash pet:

• First offense is a warning or a ticket
• Tickets start at $100
• $100 per offence thereafter

Pets may also not be tied up outside businesses. Even if you are just running inside a business downtown quick to grab a bite to eat or pick up an order, this is technically not allowed. 

Training collars are not considered a leash for your pet.

Who is responsible for an unfortunate dog attack? If your off leash dog gets attacked by a leashed dog, whoever has the unleashed dog is responsible. If your unleashed dog bites another person, again whoever has the unleashed dog is responsible.

Here is a list of off-leash dog parks in the Bozeman area:

• Burke Park
• Canine Beach at the Bozeman Pond
• Highland Park
• Snowfill
• Anderson Dog park at Gallatin County Regional Park
• Cooper Park
• Centennial Park (with specific hours)
• West Paw Dog Park at Story Mill Community Park
• Lewis and Bark Dog Park at Bozeman Pond Park

The simplest thing to do is just follow the leash law and keep you and your pet safe.

cc: City Of Bozeman Website