There has been lots of discussion lately related to dogs and leashes and voice control on social media, on the hiking trails, and in our town committee meetings. A proposed new bylaw was brought to Town Meeting in May 2023 that was subsequently tabled until we could better understand the situation and our options.
The Select Board has been discussing various options at their meetings.
It seems worthwhile to understand all of the current laws and regulations related to dog walking in town. Regulations related to dogs appear in the Williamstown Town code, in regulations related to state owned/controlled land, and on other privately held land that permits public use.
Regulations related to dogs appear in 2 sections in the town code:
-Part I: Bylaws under Chapter 10 Animals
-Part II Board of Selectmen Regulations under Chapter 103 Parks and Playgrounds.
Part I Bylaws, Chapter 10 states that dogs are required to be on leash or under voice control when not on the owner's property.
Many towns define voice control differently. In Williamstown it means that the dog must stay within 15 ft of the person in charge at all times and fully responds to command by voice.
Part II Board of Selectman Regulations states that dogs must be on a leash when in a park controlled by the Board, although it doesn't tell us the names of the parks. Williamstown's parks include (possibly others): Linear Park, Spruces Park, Broad Brook Playground, Mount Hope Park, Mohican Recreational Path. Other parks are managed by the Conservation Commission. Those include: Margaret Lindley, Bloedel, etc and have similar regulations.
Williamstown bylaws also indicate that on property owned or controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts different regulations may apply. In the state parks, such as Mount Greylock State Reservation dogs must be leashed. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000 acres allows dogs to be off leash in designated off-leash areas. There don't seem to be any DCR controlled off leash sites in Williamstown.
Other walking areas in Town such as Williams College owned Hopkins Forest; the new Mohican Recreational Path; Trustees of the Reservation, Field Farm and Mountain Meadow require dogs to be leashed.
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This section provides links and citations from the various regulations related to leashing and other dog related things.
Williamstown Town Code
Part 1 Bylaws
As used in this bylaw, unless the context otherwise indicates:
Voice Control - Full response to command by voice and within 15 feet of owner or person in charge while dog is free of restraint, and to the satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer if dog is under question.
A. Dog owners, keepers and persons otherwise in charge are required to restrain their dogs physically by leash or by voice control when they are not on the owner's property. B. This section shall not apply to property owned and/or controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where a separate set of rules and regulations apply.
A. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by such person's dog on any sidewalk, street or any other area to which the public has access. B. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by such person's dog or any other animal on private property abutting a public way while such person's dogs or animal is under restraint, control or command. C. The provisions of this bylaw shall not apply to a guide animal, hearing animal or service animal while actually engaged in the performance of its trained duties with a disabled person.
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G. Take any animal into any park, playground or beach under the jurisdiction of the Park Commissioners, except on a proper leash. There shall be no animals taken to areas where specifically prohibited.
Williamstown Mohican Recreational Path
Sign at the entrance to the path says -
Common Courtesy
Keep your dog on a leash (Maximum 6 Feet). Pick up after your dog.
Hopkins Forest, Williams College
Dogs must be leashed at all times
Trustees of the Reservation
Mountain Meadow Preserve - dogs must be kept on leash at all times
Field Farm - dogs must be kept on leash at all times
To ensure an enjoyable parks experience for all visitors, DCR requests that all dog owners observe the following rules and etiquette while recreating with dogs at DCR properties where dogs are allowed:
Bring no more than four (4) dogs per person at one time, unless the owner has a special use permit or commercial dog walking permit issued in accordance with DCR regulations.
Always clean up after your dog(s) and carry out waste or dispose of it in an appropriate receptacle. Do not leave it on the ground. Cleaning Up After Your Dog
Dogs must be on-leash in all parking areas.
Unless invited, do not allow your dog, even if friendly, to approach other dogs or people, who may not desire such contact. Keep dogs under effective control at all times and make sure they do not engage in aggressive behavior.
In on-leash areas, dogs must be tethered on a leash of no more than ten feet in length
In designated off-leash areas, dogs must be under control either through voice control or electronic training collar, or in a manner directed by a law enforcement officer, DCR ranger, or other DCR personnel. This means your dog:
is within sight at all times
comes immediately when called
stays at your command
does not charge or chase people, dogs, horses, or wildlife
is leashed when entering or exiting an off-leash area. The owner should have one leash in hand for each dog.
Visitors who do not abide by these rules may be subject to eviction from the park and/or receive a fine.
Nearby Off-leash areas
Clarksburg State Park in Clarksburg, on trails not in the recreation area or campground.
October Mountain State Forest in Lee, on trails not in the recreation area or campground.
Pittsfield State Forest in Pittsfield, on trails not in the recreation area or campground.
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