Dog Problems At The Ansonia Riverwalk

Danielle Couture was walking her blue-nose pitbull Sookie Wednesday on the Derby Greenway trail, when she decided to check out Ansonia’s section of the walkway. 

But when she crossed Division Street and walked a few steps onto Ansonia’s walkway, she noticed a new sign: No dogs allowed.

Oh no,” Couture said. I really wanted to check it out.”

The signs were posted Tuesday, after Ansonia officials received complaints that people were taking their dogs on the newly opened Ansonia Riverwalk, despite the city’s ban. 

Ansonia banned dogs — and all animals, except for service pets — from the Riverwalk, in light of problems Derby has reported on its adjacent Greenway trail. 

But that doesn’t stop people from bringing their four-legged companions on walks with them on Ansonia’s pathway. 

They’re defiant. They’re arrogant,” Ansonia resident Robert Quinn said during the Ansonia Board of Aldermen meeting March 13. 

Quinn said he often stops offenders and scolds them. 

I’ve been getting a lot of harassment, a lot of name-calling,” Quinn said. I’ve been told to mind my own business… They just have a blatant disregard for the trail and the people on it.”

City officials assured Quinn that the problems would lessen now that the city has posted larger signs warning of the no-dog rule. 

PHOTO: Jodie MozdzerPreviously, the Riverwalk mentioned the no-dog rule in a sign with a list of all rules. The print was small. 

So this week, the city posted new, bigger signs that outlines the ban on dogs — and includes the ordinance number.

Walkers Wednesday night noticed. 

Several, like Couture, saw it as they approached the walkway from Derby’s side, and decided to turn around and go back to Derby. Couture walked with a blue plastic bag, ready to clean up after Sookie if necessary. 

People who bring dogs on Ansonia’s walkway face a $99 fine if they are caught.

We will have people ticketed if they violate that,” Board of Aldermen President Eugene Sharkey said Tuesday. 

Sharkey recommended that people who see dogs on the trail should call police. 

I’m sure as officers are available, they will send someone down,” Sharkey said. There’s only one way off the trail, so they can catch them on the way out.”

Police Chief Kevin Hale said the department can enforce the rule now that the signs reference the ordinance number. 

Poop Problems

Ansonia’s ban comes in response to ongoing problems on Derby’s trail, where dog owners do no always clean up after their pets. 

Derby is nowconsidering a ban of dogs on its portion of the river trail, because the problems never go away.

Ansonia and Derby have floated plans to have an inter-town dog park to give people a place to take their dogs. 

PHOTO: Jodie MozdzerWednesday, along with a couple small dogs on the Ansonia walkway, there was also some dog poop along the side of the trail. 

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