Most problems that exist arise from human behavior, and not from the natural behaviors of our dogs and cats.

Having a special pet comes with responsibilities - to both the pet, your family and your community. Please observe these practices for a safe and enjoyable experience for all trail and open space users while preserving wildlife and natural habitat.

To keep our parks, trails and open space safe, clean and protect native habitat:

Owners Must Pick-up After Their Dogs.

Owners Must Leash Their Dogs.

This function is not the dog's fault. Owners must pick up after their dogs wherever and whenever it occurs.

There has been talk of providing plastic bags in our open spaces for the convenience of dog-owners. This will be an agenda item at the August Master Association meeting, come help realistically problem solve.

In the meantime, while walking your dog, please bring a means to clean up after him or her. Doing so voluntarily will be a big help.

First of all, dogs must be on leashes at all times. Everyone living in Castle Pines falls under the jurisdiction of Douglas County, and this is a County ordinance. This ordinance was later amended to confirm that voice command is not leash command.

So, by following the County ordinance, no one should allow their dog of any size, at any time, no matter how well-behaved, to be outside the yard without a leash. (FYI: A Douglas County animal control officer does have the right to impound any dog found running at large. The dog will be held for no less than five days, and the owner will be charged an impoundment fee of $15.00, in addition to any boarding fees.)

Keeping your dog on a leash will ensure that your dog is not disturbing wildlife, dogs in adjacent yards or other people. By using this conscientious approach, your pet will get plenty of exercise and others will get to enjoy their activities.

These are areas designated as "dog parks" where canines can run off-leash.

Off-leash parks do exist - such as the one on the west side of Quebec north of McArthur Ranch Road - they just don't exist in our community.

Should this change? Perhaps you would like to work to make that change.

In the meantime, please follow the County ordinance.

Denver Dumb Friends League:

• Website at www.ddfl.org
• Dog Helpline (Behavior Dept) : 303-696-4941, ext. 346
• Cat Helpline (Behavior Dept) : 303-696-4941, ext. 348
• Humane Education
• Obediance Classes or 303-696-4941, option 3.
• Cruetly Investigations : 303-923-0022
• Thams' Lost and Found Center : 303-751-9688

The League is coming to Douglas County. The new facility is on Castleton Court (just west of I-25 and south of the factory shops. Projected opening in early 2002).

Colorado Veterinary Medical Association - the online version of the resource.

ASPCA - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

There is a place on the Market section of this site to post a notice of a missing pet or to let the community know you found and are sheltering someone's beloved.

If you think that is not prominent enough, let the webmaster know and it will be on this page too.

What to do when... - for all the swell URGENT stuff

Resources for our area - who, what and where

The Responsibility begins with us humans - being a good owner (right sidebar)

Note: all the other links on this page take you to other sites, this site will not automatically open a secondary browser window. We do this so that you can use that great navigational tool - your browser's BACK button.

The County says it is a Class 2 petty offense if: "The dog's owner fails to prevent his/her dog, regardless of whether the dog is on or off the owner's premises, from disturbing the peace of any other person by loud, habitual, or persistent barking, howling, yelping or whining."

You are nuts from the noise: Call the DC Animal Control.

Being Neighborly: Try talking to your neighbors first. They may not be aware that their animals are becoming chronic barkers or whiners. Help to pet owners is available from the Dumb Friends League's Behavior Department.

Dogs Off-leash - (see right sidebar)

County ordinance says dogs must be leashed and voice command is not a sufficient substitute for a leash.

If the animal has tags and you can get the ID information, give the owner a call. Many a pet was returned safely home from their misadventure by considerate neighbors.

Don't approach a hostile or frightened dog. If you see a dog running loose, you can call DC Animal Control or the Sheriff's office. No one wants to see a dog injured on the Parkway - no one wants to see you injured either.

Eliminate the unsightly, unsanitary and unpleasant presence of dog waste. How??

By routinely picking up after your dog - ensure that dogs will always be welcome visitors to our open spaces system.

The County says it is a Class 2 Misdemeanor if: "The owner's dog bites or attacks a person causing bodily injury:

• while running at large
• while off the owner's premises but under the control of the owner
• while on the owner's premises

"There are fines and jail time for the human and if the court finds a dog to be vicious, it can order it destroyed.

On the side of the dog that is provoked into biting or attacking "such provocation shall constitute an affirmative defense which may be asserted by any dog owner charged".

Let's not have it come down to legalese and injury. Please monitor your animals and walk with them on-leash.

The County also says "you must provide food, water, shelter or the normal standards of care consistent with the species, age or physical condition of the pet animal".

Intervene if you have cause. Talk to the area shelters (links on left sidebar) for help or call the DC Animal Control at 303-660-7529.

Much has been made of dogs. Giving cats their due, it is no favor to let your cat roam in our community. We have predators and not many trees for cats to get to temporary safety.

Cat Deterrants: Some neighbors have had luck using Grant's Cat and Dog repellant, available at Home Depot, to keep cats out of landscaping, sand boxes, playground gravel, etc.

Talk to the Cat Care Society
or the DDFL's Cat-Line (303-696-4941, ext. 348) to get a point-of-view about keeping kitty safe.

And then there was the one about the cat that came and went through a narrow window above its owners' bed - one night out and about, it brought a little gift of what it had caught in the middle of the night and dropped the snake in the bed - "Mr. Snake, meet 'Mom and Dad'."