Rehoboth: Clean up dog poop, don’t feed birds in Rehoboth

Feeding seagulls on the beach or Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach could produce a $50 fine based on code revisions proposed by the Rehoboth Beach Animal Issues Committee. If the proposed changes are approved, dog owners could also be fined $250 for not cleaning up their dog’s poop.

Commissioner Richard Byrne, committee chair, presented the draft changes during a commissioner workshop Dec. 9.  Joining him was committee member Cheryl Crowe, who is also a member of the Brandywine Valley SPCA board of directors.

Describing the current code as a patchwork of good intentions, Byrne said the updates reflect common practice and state law. Much of the current code is outdated, he said.

Crowe said a lot of the changes reflect changes at the state level, related to who is in charge of animal control throughout the state. The rewrite would take onus off the city as much as possible, she said.

According to the proposal, police officers and parking enforcement would be responsible for writing poop tickets. This proposal would not apply to a guide dog, hearing dog or Americans with Disabilities Act recognized service dog accompanying a person with a disability.

Byrne said the Rehoboth Beach Police chief is aware of the proposed changes and is on board with enforcement.

The revisions also reduce leashes from 8 feet to no longer than 6 feet, and increase fines for an owner of a vicious dog, cat or other animal to no less than $250 to no more than $500. The definition of a vicious animal is one that has bitten or injured a human or other animal on two or more occasions. The code currently sets the fine at no less than $100 to no more than $250.

Livestock or fowl would be prohibited from being kept within city limits. Currently, cows, goats, sheep, hogs, horses, fowl or other animals are allowed if they’re maintained in enclosures, or other fastening device from which they cannot escape.

As proposed, gulls are added to the list of waterfowl that are not to be fed. The draft ordinance specifically outlaws the feeding of gulls, seals, turtles or any other mammal or waterfowl from a pond, lake, stream, or any portion of the beach or Boardwalk.

People caught violating this section of the ordinance could pay a fine of not less than $5 or more than $50 for the first offense. For each subsequent offense, the fine would not be less than $25 or more than $200, plus the cost of prosecution.

Commissioner comment on the proposed changes was limited.

Commissioner Lisa Schlosser said she would like to see a change to the portion of the code related to dogs not being allowed on the Boardwalk and beach reflect the parking season – the Friday before Memorial Day to the second Sunday following Labor Day. Currently, the seasonal prohibition for dogs on the beach is May 1 through Sept. 30. It would be a way to standardize seasonal enforcement, she said.

Byrne said there was still fine-tuning to be done on the draft, and he would bring it back for more comment during the Jan. 6 commissioner workshop.