Sept 2nd
SLE HOA Residents have complained to the Board of Directors about dogs roaming freely, entering the roadways, confronting pedestrians and causing them to fear for their safety. This is totally unacceptable and violates Idaho law.
a. Kootenai County and Idaho ordinances prohibit “dogs at large” on property belonging to others (including neighboring properties and HOA roadways).
b. Dogs must be fenced on your own property or must be secured by a leash long enough and strong enough to restrain the dog(s), or the dogs must be under your direct supervision, and you must be able to control them verbally and physically at all times. Allowing them to run loose in an unfenced yard does not constitute control.
c. Allowing dogs to run loose is generally treated as a civil violation or infraction, but penalties can escalate (see h. below).
d. Loose animals are subject to pick-up and impoundment by the Kootenai County Sheriff. They maintain a hotline to report loose or biting animals: 208-446-1300 ext. 2.
e. A dog is considered dangerous if it bites, attacks, or aggressively threatens a person.
f. If a dog is declared dangerous that animal must be kept in a secure, locked enclosure.
g. A dangerous dog can only be taken into public areas on a short leash, muzzled, and the owner must carry specific public liability insurance in the amount of $200,000.
h. Repeat offenses, vicious attacks, or failure to follow containment mandates can result in misdemeanor criminal charges for the owner and in severe cases court ordered destruction of the animal.
Per Idaho statutes, when a dog approaches a person in an aggressive manner, and the person fears for their safety, that person may use deadly force against the animal. We don’t want this to happen. The burden is on you (the dog owner) to prevent such an incident.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE DOGS RUNNING LOOSE IN SLE, OR IF A DOG APPROACHES YOU IN A THREATENING MANNER:
Protect yourself by whatever means is necessary.
Take notes of the date, time, location. Take photos if possible.
Call the Kootenai County Sheriff animal hotline 208-446-1300 ext. 2
David Petersen
President, Spirit Lake East HOA
