Over the past few months, residents of the New North End alongside other residents of the city have shared via social media (Front Porch Forum, Facebook) a growing number of incidents involving dogs or dog owners. The incidents were reported by both dog owners, former dog owners or non-dog owners.

Most of those incidents are similar in nature; some are unique incidents that resulted in a decreased quality of life and have caused tensions between neighbors. Those incidents include but are not limited to the following:

• Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches
• Dogs attacking people or other dogs
• Dog feces not being picked up
• Policies not being enforced
• Unlicensed dogs
• Dog barking contributing to noise pollution 

On Tuesday, March 30th the New North End City Councilors, Barlow, Carpenter and Dieng, hosted an informative and constructive community meeting alongside South End District City Councilor Shannon and Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Wight in order to better understand the pet issue beyond the complaints shared on social media.

The Community meeting was well attended and received by the community. The attendance ranged from people of the South End, Old North End and New North End. Most attendees were dog owners or former dog owners as well as non-dog owners, nature lovers, dog park volunteers and professionals working with pets.

Residents who attended the community meeting brainstormed ideas and best practices related to these issues and are willing to formally help the city in an ongoing way.

The Burlington City Council, via  RESOLUTION, respectfully tasked the Parks, Arts and Culture Committee to make a recommendation via a resolution by June 28th to the Council regarding the creation of a Burlington Dog Task Force to address the issues raised in this resolution and possibly other issues. 

The Parks, Arts and Culture Committee, in consultation with the Director of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront and the Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator, developed the following recommendations for a nine (9) member task force and their scope of work. 

The nine-member Dog Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

1) Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator

2) Representative of a dog shelter, dog rescue group or other dog group to be appointed by PACC

3) Dog trainer to be appointed by PACC

4) Veterinarian or animal health professional to be appointed by PACC

5) Burlington Police Department Community Resource Office representative to be designated by the Chief of Police

6) Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront representative (staff with land use or event planning expertise) to be designated by the BPRW director 

7) At large Burlington community member who is a non-dog owner to be appointed by PACC

8) At large Burlington community member who is a dog owner to be appointed by PACC 

9) A representative of the Parks Commission to be appointed by the Parks Commission Chair

The Role of the Task force

1) Review current city programs and policies including other dog task force work. 

2) Conduct an Education Campaign

• Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches
• Dogs attacking people or other dogs
• Dog feces not being picked up
• Dog barking contributing to noise pollution

3) Review licensing rules and make recommendations

• Review licensing fees and make recommendations 
• Explore modernizing license fee applications
• Consider the question of licensing of outdoor cats 

4) Review compliance and policy enforcement and make recommendations

5) Plan Pet/Dog Events, Activities and Celebrations, i.e., National Pet Day or National Dog Day Celebration 

6) Review current funding allocated to our municipal dog/pet resources and make recommendations

7) Provide quarterly updates to the Parks, Arts, and Culture Committee 

8) Generate a final report to be presented to the City Council by April 29, 2022 

Apply to Join the Task Force

The application deadline to join the task force has passed. Applications will be reviewed. PACC appointed members shall be selected by the Parks, Arts and Culture Committee at their September meeting. The City of Burlington encourages persons from diverse backgrounds to apply to serve on boards, commissions and committees. The City is committed to providing equal opportunity to all persons without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual preference, national origin, disability or any other non-merit factor.