Quote:
Originally Posted by JGibson
Maybe you're directing your anger at the wrong party.
Does TV allow dogs at the square? If they can ban smoking in the square I’m sure they can ban dogs in the square during entertainment.
You’ll be banging your head against the wall expecting people to practice common sense with their dogs.
So petitioning TV to ban dogs from the square would be a more viable solution. Opposed to nasty glaring and internet venting.
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I understand why some people feel that dogs do not belong at the squares. For the most part, exception to bona fide service dogs (not those "emotional support" critters), I agree. Nevertheless dogs at the squares (and also unfortunately in some stores as well) are a part of life in TV, and for the most part are pretty well-behaved. The squares are public property though, NOT owned by The Villages, so non-Villagers have the perfect right to be there.
After some clicking I found that Florida law is all over the place on dogs. For instance Marion County does not require that your dog be on a leash when out and about. Sumter county apparently does. One thing that seems to be in agreement though is that dogs that are unduly disruptive do not belong in public places: if owners of such dogs do not remove their dog they can be held in violation of the law.
"Public nuisance animal shall also mean any dog that makes excessive noises that cause unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or discomfort to the neighbors. This includes but is not limited to continued or repeated howling, barking or whining, without provocation, with the exception of dogs housed at animal care establishments. The violation can be witnessed by an officer or documented in at least two (2) affidavits from individuals living or staying in separate residences within one thousand (1,000) feet of the dog's location. The affidavits must contain documentation of the times and dates of such nuisances, and must be documented by an animal control officer who will determine if there is probable cause to believe a violation has occurred".(Chapter 4, Animal Control: Chapter 4-7, Public Nuisance Animals). Additionally, Chapter 4-8 (Dangerous Animals) goes into a lot more detail. anyone who brings a dangerous animal to the squares and the animal injures another person or animal, that owner is going to be in for some significant legal trouble.
In other words, petitioning TV to remove or control dogs would be a fruitless exercise. But there ARE remedies under the law. I frequently see uniformed officers at the squares during performances. Approaching them and asking them to do their jobs, in the case of an obviously disruptive animal, should not be out of the question.