Lawrence Park Off Leash Dogs Public Comment from Vanessa Ceravolo Vanessa M. Ceravolo
770 North Main Street
Kalispell, NIT 59901
January 6, 2026
Mayor and City Council of Kalispell
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59901
RE: Public Safety Concerns and Enforcement of Leash Laws at Lawrence Park
Dear Mayor Hunter and City Council Members:
I am writing as a 28-year resident of North Main Street to formally express my concern regarding
the lack of leash law enforcement at Lawrence Park. Until this past year, I was a daily visitor to the
park, enjoying the trails and river with my dog and grandchildren. However, I no longer feel safe
using this public amenity due to the unchecked prevalence of off-leash dogs.
While I value our city's green spaces, Lawrence Park has effectively become an unregulated dog
park, excluding vulnerable citizens and creating significant liability risks.
1. Public Safety and Exclusion
Public parks are intended for all citizens,yet the current environment endangers several
specific groups:
• Children: Research indicates that children are 3-5 times more likely than adults to be
bitten by dogs, often involving the head or neck. I have personally witnessed loose dogs in
Lawrence Park charging into families attempting to take photos, terrifying small children.
• The Elderly and Mobility-Impaired: An unleashed dog—no matter how "friendly"—can
cause devastating -falls or injuries.
0 Responsible Pet Owners: Owners adhering to the law are frequently harassed. This lack of
control can lead to fights that endanger both the pets and their handlers. I have been
charged and pursued by off-leash dogs while walking my own dog on a leash. When I have
reminded owners ofthe leash requirement, I have been yelled at and berated.
2. Hygiene and Sanitation
The lack of supervision of dogs has led to a degradation of the park's hygiene. Despite the
availability of at least 4 waste stations, owners of off-leash dogs frequently fail to clean up after
them. This increases the risk of parasites and fouling in a shared Community space.
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3. Habitual Offenders and Enforcement Gaps
The current enforcement mechanism is failing. There is no direct line to Animal Control
and by the time a response occurs, offenders have left. Consequently, we see the same individuals
violating the law daily:
White Tundra Pickup Truck with black deer guard: A woman frequently, if not
daily, parks in the west parking area (near the climbing boulders) and releases 3
medium-to-large dogs to run across the large grassy area and along the river road.
Her dogs have charged me on 2 separate occasions.
Red Pickup: A man who regularly releases 2 large dogs out of his truck to run free
along the river road and around the back of the park.
Ford SUV: A man who daily releases his dog to run the road and around the back of
the park. The dog will run up to other people and dogs. I have had a contentious
"near-miss"with this owner and his dog and now I avoid the back of the park
entirely.
I have photos of all three vehicles.
4. Request for Action
Signs indicating leash requirements are clearly ineffective. I respectfully urge the Council
to take the following actions:
• Enhance Enforcement: Increasing patrols by Animal Control or KPID during peak
hours, specifically targeting the back areas of the park.
Issue Citations: Move beyond warnings. The City must begin citing and fining
habitual offenders to deter this behavior.
• Community Education: Launch a campaign reminding residents that a "friendly" dog
is not exempt from the leash law.
We have allowed a beautiful green space to become unsafe for the taxpaying citizens for whom it
was established.
I look forward to hearing how the Mayor and Council plan to address this issue.
Very truly yours,
A . kle 6
Vanessa M. Ceravolo