Press releases
Leash Your Dog – It’s the Law
Mammoth Lakes, CA – The Mammoth Lakes Police Department would like to remind citizens that the Town of Mammoth Lakes has several ordinances to keep their animals and the public safe. The Mammoth Lakes Police Department has responded to an increasing number of dog-related incidents and may issue citations for dog owners in violation of the following ordinances:
MLTO 6.12.010 License (Required) – If you live within the Town of Mammoth Lakes limits the owner of any dog over the age of six months shall procure a town dog license and pay thereafter an annual license fee for each dog.
MLTO 6.12.210 Dog at large – It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or having the care, custody or possession of any dog within the town limits of Mammoth Lakes to allow such dog to run at large. All such dogs shall be kept securely fastened by a chain, rope or leash unless securely confined within private property legally controlled by the person in possession of the dog. Further, any dog off the premises of its owner, or the person charged with the care, custody or possession of the dog, shall be presumed to be at large unless it is securely fastened to a rope, chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length and is under the immediate physical control of a competent person.
Pet ownership comes with the responsibility of humane care and management of their animal, along with a legal obligation as well. A dog owner is liable for a victim’s injuries if their dog bites and injures the victim. Additional ordinances regulating the responsibilities of pet owners can be found in the Town of Mammoth Lakes Municipal Code (https://library.municode.com/ca/mammoth_lakes_/codes/code_of_ordinances).
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Dog Licensing Clinic
Mammoth Lakes, CA – On Saturday, June 17, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, the Mammoth Lakes Police Department will be renewing Town of Mammoth Lakes dog licenses for the upcoming fiscal year and offering discounted vaccinations and microchipping. Dr. Gaylon TeSlaa and the staff of Alpen Veterinary clinic will be on hand with low cost vaccinations and microchipping for both dogs and cats.
California law requires all dogs over the age of 4 months to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. If you live within the limits of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, you are required to license your dog.
If your dog does not need a rabies update, you may purchase just the required license – $20 if your animal is spayed/neutered; $50 if they’re unaltered. Please bring proof of spay/neuter and current rabies vaccination (if applicable). Discounted microchipping will also be available for $10. If you are paying by check and will be purchasing a license and vaccinations, please remember that you will be paying two separate bills.
For everyone’s safety, your dog must be leashed and your cat in a carrier. If your animal doesn’t do well with others, please leave them in your car until you complete the paperwork and the vet will come to your vehicle to administer the shots.
You may now purchase 2017-18 TOML dog licenses at the MLPD Business Office Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Please bring proof of spay/neuter and current vaccinations.
For further information, contact Hannah DeGoey at (760) 965-3702 or [email protected].
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Very well, when will dog owners realize that law is law, whether they like it or not? I’m sick of their entitled attitude.
It is ridiculous that dog owners are so selfish that they think the law never applies to them. I quit walking on Mammoth trails because they are now for dogs and not humans. Last week I hiked to Crystal, TJ, Barret, Emerald, Hart, Skeleton and other lakes. I encountered so many unleashed dogs that it was sickening. These are highly populated trails and should require dog leashes. Where are the signs prohibiting unleashed dogs are crowded trails? Why is there not one at Convict Lake? Dogs are animals and do not even belong on human trails. And to my knowledge, there is not yet a dog park or dog trail in Mammoth.
Inyo National Forest generally permits off-leash dogs as long as they are under effective voice command. No distinction is made between dog and human trails. Humans afer all, are animals too, and a fair number of them are not as well-behaved as many dogs.
People can come into this country illegally but I have to register my dog and pay an annual fee?
As a cyclist, when I come upon someone walking their dogs off leash on a trail, I want the person to have control of their dogs as I pass by. I’m ok with verbal control, but they need to show it by having the dog heal.
I hate when people say ‘my dog’s friendly’…I don’t care that it’s friendly, I care that it’s not going to run in front of my bike and cause a collision. A little common sense goes a long way. We can easily share our trails if we use our heads.
I’ve been riding bikes in Mammoth for decades, I’ve encountered hundreds of dogs with their owners on and off leash, not once have I ever had an issue. It’s not rocket science. Of course you gotta know when to think for the dog.
As far as I’m concerned the trail belongs to the dogs as much as it belongs to me.
As a bicycle rider and a dog owner/lover, I have to agree with sugarmags. Just recently my wife was nearly taken out by an off leash puppy romping on a local paved trail, while the owner just looked on obliviously. Fortunately my wife had the sense to slow way down to a crawl seeing that the dog was not under control. Even so she almost hit the deck when the dog abruptly changed directions. All the while the dog’s owner just watched and made no attempts to control it or even apologize for the near miss.
A little common sense and a little common courtesy is really not that difficult.
So technically,the owner of those two labs is in violation of this law if they are on Twins, and maybe Lake Mary. You know someone who is bored or needs their 1 minute of fame is going to turn them in. Thank God (can I say that on here?) that I live in Inyo County. BobK
Thanks to the stupid dog owners.
I saw one of those stupid dog owners with their dog off leash outside of Subway (Mammoth) sitting and smoking a cigarette right next to one of the signs that indicate no smoking in that area. The dog was behaving but uncomfortable and seeking some shade while the dog owner was having a grand ole time chatting it up on her phone oblivious to her dogs discomfort sitting in the sun.
Drugs, murder, and no police at night. And they worry about unleashed dogs?