Hanover County adjusts leash laws ahead of baby animal season

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- It's time to leash up! As of Tuesday, April 1, Hanover County's new leash laws for rural parts of the community are officially in effect.

"This time of year, we have a lot of juveniles of livestock being born," Hanover County's Chief of Animal Protection, Jeffrey Parker, told 8News.

Officials want to keep pets safe in rural areas, like western Hanover County, where baby animals are popping up all across the land. Among those pets are puppies like Lucy.

Lucy has lived in Hanover County her whole life, so she is an expert on the leash laws. The cream colored golden retriever is a pro at cuddles, playing frisbee and -- of course -- going on walks responsibly -- which, in the summer, means wearing her leash.

The new law means even the best behaved pups have to be leashed up or in "immediate control" by their owner.

"As far as I've seen, most everybody in town has their dogs on a leash," Dee Lundgard told 8News.

Lundgard and her dog Yacht have lived in Ashland for about nine years.

"It not only makes me feel safer, but it makes my dog safer as well," Lungard explained. "Since he is a senior, he can't defend himself any longer."

Now, this update doesn't change anything for dogs in suburban parts of the county, because, for them, these rules apply year-round.

Chief Parker told 8News that this temporary rule change is also to prevent the spread of rabies. He explained what happens if you break the rules.

"The dog can be impounded at the shelter," Parker said. "Or we can, if it has identification, we can contact the owner, inform them of the leash law, and then go from there."

Again, this change only applies to Hanover's rural communities and only lasts until June 30.