Friends of the Wissahickon Distribute Free Leashes for Dog-owners

Trail Ambassadors for the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) have begun distributing free dog leases to pet owners they encounter in the Wissahickon with their dogs off-leash.

“FOW has received anecdotal reports of negative interactions on the trails between park users and dogs off leash, as well as many reports of lost dogs,” said FOW Executive Director Maura McCarthy. “We want to encourage all dog owners to follow park rules for the safety of their dogs and all park users by distributing free dog leashes.”

Fairmount Park regulations require that all dogs be on a leash no more than six feet long. Penalties for breaking this regulation include hefty fines of up to $300. A number of dog walkers let their dogs off leash, but even “good” dogs can be disruptive to walkers or runners, scare horses, and interrupt the quiet appreciation of the Wissahickon Valley's natural beauty. 

Also, dogs off leash often stray off the trails and can add to the erosion of the Park’s slopes, ruin fragile vegetation, and disturb small mammals and ground nesting birds. FOW has brought attention to this issue through its newsletters and continues to ask Park users to be aware of the regulation and mindful of the negative impact of dogs off leash.

For more information, visit www.fow.org.