SOMA Living March 2023

PROTECT YOUR PUP While our dogs enjoy this unseasonably warm weather, staff of the Maplewood Health Department want to remind you about our leash law. Per Maplewood Township Ordinance 113-12, any dog on public streets or in any of the public places in the Township must be securely controlled by an adequate leash not more than six feet long. In addition, no dog, leashed or unleashed, is permitted on any basketball, tennis, or paddle tennis courts within the Township of Maplewood. There are many good reasons to keep your dog on a leash. It protects your dog from accident, injury, and even illness. It protects your neighbors, as well as their animals and property, from dog-related incidents and damage. And it protects you, the owner or caretaker, from uncomfortable, unpredictable or even tragic situations. It is also important to keep your dog off our local sports courts. In addition to being unpleasant and frustrating for residents using the courts, dog waste damages the surface. Equally important, the surface of a court can be bad for our dogs’ paws. Courts are abrasive, slippery, and can get extremely hot. The Maplewood Police Department recently received complaints about dog violations and will increase efforts to enforce this ordinance. Violators are subject to a fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for a second offense, and up to $500 for any subsequent offenses. Please call the Maplewood Health Department at (973) 762-8120, ext. 2002 with any questions or concerns about responsible pet ownership in Maplewood.

MARCH 2023 | SOMA LIVING 27

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