Informed Citizens

When taking a dog off of one’s own property, it must be leashed

While Holyoke’s ordinance on animals at large technically refers to all animals except cats, it most often comes up in relation to dogs.

The gist of the ordinance is that animals must be restrained when they’re taken off the owner’s property within Holyoke’s city limits.

Sec 6.04.010.
Animal running at large.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any animal to fail to confine it or cause it to be confined to the premises of the said owner or custodian, unless the animal is under effective and immediate control of the owner or custodian by a leash, cord, chain or other restraining device.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any animal to fail to have the animal under effective and immediate control of the owner or custodian by a leash, cord, chain, or other restraining device at all times that such animal is within the city.

(c) Any animal which is not properly restrained as provided in this section shall be considered to be running at large. Any animal running at large shall be subject to penalty and may be apprehended by any person authorized by the city to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

(d) It is the purpose of this section to impose strict liability upon the owner or custodian of any animal with respect to an animal at large.

(e) Upon a violation of this section, an owner or custodian shall be subject to a penalty pursuant to the general penalty provision.

(f) Nothing in this section shall apply to cats.