Dear petitioners,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding off-leash dogs in Marin County. I deeply appreciate the effort you’ve taken to highlight these concerns. Your voices are invaluable in shaping our community policies to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our shared spaces.

As the Mayor of San Rafael, I share your commitment to fostering a safe and harmonious environment for all residents—humans and pets alike. As you may realize, it can be challenging to address dog related complaints, as one person’s menace of a dog is another person’s beloved pet but the good news is we have a very responsive agency in Marin, the Humane Society, that continues to be very helpful in these situations.

The incidents described in your petition are troubling, and they underscore the importance of ensuring that public spaces are accessible, rules are followed, and we continue to improve awareness and education about this topic.

Marin Humane (https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/animal-control/) is contracted to provide animal control services within our City, including for enforcement activities. We’ve also adopted the Marin County Animal Code, which requires dogs in San Rafael to always be under the control of a responsible person, and leashing of dogs in public places. Specifically, our Municipal Code requires dogs to be on leash in all public spaces (Muni Code 6.10), including our parks (Muni Code 12.20.070 (C)) and open space (Muni Code 19.10.060 (21)). There are penalties for failure to comply with these rules.

If you experience an issue with an off-leash dog or have a complaint about an animal, I encourage you to contact Marin Humane Animal Services by calling 415-883-4621. If the incident is an emergency requiring an immediate response, please call 415-883-4621 or call 911.

You can click here for more information on how to file a complaint: https://marinhumane.org/get-help/marin-animal-services/complaints/

Or here to report cruelty and neglect: https://marinhumane.org/report-cruelty/

I agree that existing leash laws must be consistently enforced to be effective, and your call for a data-driven approach is well-founded. That’s why I want to reinforce the importance of reporting issues or concerns regarding off-leash dogs to the Marin Humane Society. This will ensure our community has accurate information to assess the effectiveness of implemented measures, and so we can refine our approach and allocate resources more effectively.

I also agree that having designated off-leash areas plays a crucial role in balancing the needs of dog owners with public safety. Dog parks work well in some areas, and not so well in others. Projects like the Northgate Town Square development will expand access to such areas while ensuring they are well-maintained and appropriately located. At present, the County of Marin provides a popular dog-specific park adjacent to the Civic Center.

Here in San Rafael, some residents may be unaware of the rules, or the potential risks associated with off-leash dogs so we will continue to work with Marin Humane to ensure our parks and public space have clear signage and public education campaigns.

Thank you again for raising awareness and advocating for improvements! I encourage continued dialogue and collaboration as we work toward policies that protect and respect everyone in our community. Together, we can ensure that Marin County remains a welcoming and safe place for all.

Kate Colin
Mayor, City of San Rafael

Links to Codes Referenced in Response:

Muni Code 6.10:
https://library.municode.com/ca/san_rafael/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6AN_CH6.10AN

Muni Code 12.20.070 (C)
https://library.municode.com/ca/san_rafael/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19PUPAPROPSP_CH19.20PARE_19.20.070USPABU

Muni Code 19.10.060 (21): https://library.municode.com/ca/san_rafael/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19PUPAPROPSP_CH19.10LAWAAR_19.10.060OPSPRE