You can call the police non-emergency number since this won't get attention probably until Monday.
734.994.2911

I am asking for the Community standards officers to patrol the neighborhoods and issue citations for these scofflaws. If they did it once they'll do it again. Also these are not the only people terrorizing the sidewalks and neighbors yards with their out of control dogs..

A2 Fix It is not the proper place to report complaints regarding animal activity. To do so, please call the Ann Arbor Police Department at 734.994.2911. Community Standard's Officers do not enforce animal complaints.

Your request has been acknowledged and/or addressed to the best of staff's ability. A more detailed description of action taken by staff, if available, is provided in the comments above. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Unsatisfactory. Any response to calling it in to Police Dept. would be too late. I am asking for proactive enforcement of community standards. This is the proper place for this type of law breaking. Please do your job.

Thank you for your A2 Fix It request, #374478. Your request is important to us and will be prioritized and addressed based on the overall availability of city resources. Please note: If the nature of your request is urgent, such as water emergencies, please check http://www.a2gov.org/a2fixit for phone numbers to contact us. A2 Fix It is for non-urgent, non-emergency issues and is monitored during weekday business hours only. Your patience is appreciated.

Perhaps you could explain your concern in a polite way to the dog owners themselves? And them being "scofflaws" inherently makes it difficult to enforce. Asking a City to enforce community standards with "patrols" is unrealistic. But you seem like you are living in fear using phrases like "terrorizing the sidewalks and neighbors yards" and taking photos from inside your car.

Addressing the dog owners is pointless and often leads to nastiness. I think arguing about whether it's a "community standards" vs. "police" issue is the problem here. It's illegal activity that endangers others. I vote police. Although that would require stepped-up patrolling.

Perhaps John you could explain your interest in defending these blatant scofflaws. Could it be you are the perpetrator? In case you didn't notice in the picture, that's a big dog. Regardless of the judgements about the relative threat any dog of a given size may pose, or whether it's a good dog or a dog that just isn't understood, but 'wouldn't hurt anybody.' There are people who are scared of dogs, for a variety of reasons, we can go into those reasons in detail if you want to continue justifying these scofflows, but for now, suffice it to say some people are terrified of dogs, just like some people are afraid of flying. That is why laws about keeping dogs on leash, when walking on the public sidewalk have been enacted.
As BabsMcPhee pointed out, confronting the dog owner would not likely have worked and more likely resulted in an argument, especially considering two adults were ok with commiting and involving their minor child in the crime.
Calling the police is not going to work, because first it's a moving infraction, and the delay from call to response would result in wasted taxpayer dollars, and potential missed critical work elsewhere. This is a community standards issue, and the perpetrators should be in danger of receiving a citation if they persist in this behavior. To do this community standards officers need to monitor the neighborhood until the illegal activity is curtailed.

Perhaps John, you could explain your interest in defending these scofflaws. Could it be you are the perpetrator? It's apparent these scofflaws had no intention of following the law, as BabsMcPhee has pointed out, any effort to point out the problem would have likely resulted in an argument. Regardless of the size of the dog, or whether it's a 'good dog' or not a 'bad dog' I think all would agree some people are scared of dogs. Just like some people are afraid of flying. That is why laws about keeping dogs on leash while walking on the public sidewalk have been enacted. Allowing your dog to roam off the sidewalk and snoop and poop on your neighbor's private property is even worse. The fact that this couple together agreed to break the law, and even involve their minor charge in the commission of a crime shows there is big problem, and as I pointed out in my original post this is not any isolated occurrence.
Calling the police is not likely to help, and likely would be wasted effort. First it's a moving infraction, and given response times, the perpetrators would most likely get away with it every time. What has to happen is patrols to enforce. The police may at any given moment have more pressing work to do, and I doubt that is an effective use of their skills and time. That is why I suggest the Community Standards officers patrol, and issue citations. One or the other should be implemented. Possibly just having this discussion might help, but considering your previous response John, whether you are the perpetrator in this case, or just another dog owner who likes to break laws, I am doubtful.

First, I have no problem showing my name and not remaining anonymous, as you have "guest"... Second, my interest in this is because I feel that our limited resources to enforce community standards should be focused on the health, safety, welfare for the most people... And a dog walking on the sidewalk is not an area that seems worth the resources. Especially when you could just 1. get out of your car and talk to them about your concern and stop cowering in fear, 2. or if walking and you see a dog, there are two sides of the street - you can move to the other side if you are really that fearful. EVERY dog walker I come across in WaterHill is respectful and kind. They even move to the other side of the street.

Compare that to other community standards that have a much larger effect on the community, like big diesel trucks idling next to schools or downtowns or clearing one's sidewalk, I feel this complaint is just that: a compliant.

Interesting comment, John. This may be a "complaint" to you but if someone is intimidated enough to not want to confront the owners of a large dog, you might want to reconsider that there is a level of safety involved.

John, I'm sure you may feel like you're taking the high road, and can disparage others for using the guest account to make a complaint, but I noticed while riding on your high horse preaching down about guest comments, you neither confrim nor deny whether you and your significant other were the individuals breaking the law. So while you're demanding transparency from law abiding citizens making a complaint, your high horse has gotten smaller and smaller and now it appears that you are just riding your dog.

If you are not the perpetrator, you could have just said so. So the question still needs to be answered, are you the perpetrator? If so, do you plan to be more respectful of your neighbors, or do you plan to live the life of pariahs, requiring wasted city resources to correct your inconsiderate illegal behavior?

No, Mr./Mrs. Guest, it was not any member of my family terrifically and tragically breaking the law, putting my neighbors at risk of..... something. And if it is an issue of safety, it's one that can easily be personally avoided by going to the otherside of the street, or in Guest Users case - driving in a car. Regardless, all that response, simply b/c you *need* to know who dunnit!?

If you want even more transparency, anonymous, here it is: I am not okay with people walking their dogs unleashed. But this forum provides a pathway for the City services to identify priority through "voting". I will definitely NOT be voting for this one as I strongly feel issues like this do NOT come anywhere close to deserving the priorities of other issues... even other "community based standards", like idling, noise, and clearing one's sidewalk of snow.

The fact that 6 others (which is kind of a lot here) voted for this sort of speaks to the fact that more than a few people disagree with you, John. That said, it's a law. And it's being broken. You may "vote" not give it priority but that's just you. While I don't agree with the way the guest is handling it, I do agree that it should be addressed.

That's the beauty of a democracy... voting. I don't care if others disagree - then vote. I just don't see it as a huge priority in the large scheme of other issues that *should* have larger priority. It summarizes to me how our country as a whole prioritizes the weirdest things. So sure, vote for prioritizing this over larger, more impactful public health issues. Again, I don't disagree that dogs should be leashed, but a public shaming from the seat of a car and an anonymous posting? Probably not the best "community-based" way of handling it. Then voting to require City resources to track it down and "police" it? Again, I still don't see the value in that as a priority of funds.

OH, and 6 votes "for" something on this platform doesn't mean that there are many more votes "not for" that very same thing. There isn't that option.. maybe there should be :)

OK, I suggest you write a complaint about how our "country as a whole" prioritizes the wrong things. Until then, you don't get to decide which laws get priority, thankfully.

And, surprise surprise, neither do you get to decide! Thus it's a vote. I'm expressing an opinion.

Dear John, We get you don't like the guest feature of this app. Unfortunately your preferences are of little concern for the topic at hand, and your attempts to demean your neighbors, because of your irrelevant concerns is not only rude and belligerent, but also off topic and could be better handled with a suggestion to the software developers to change the application. Although I suspect you've already tried that and know they have a guest post option for very good reasons and are not about to change it just for you.
Dear Barb,
You mention not agreeing with how I'm handling it, besides your suggestion of trying to call the cops on the lawbreakers, and hope for an on time response on a moving violation, Are there other things that you would suggest I do differently?

Ha.. yes. You are correct. Thanks for the good laugh.

Dear John, I thought so. For the record, I don't enjoy being right. Do you enjoy being wrong?

I love being wrong! Especially when I'm rude and belligerent in the expression of an opinion on how City resources should not be spent on policing such things...

Recidivism verified. This lawbreaker lives at 809 Hillcrest. Corner of Summit and Hillcrest. Please fine.

Wow I just downloaded this app and this is the first tread I’ve come across. I immediately had the urge to point out what I could summarize about the people making the comments. I hope for your sake and the future of mankind you all mature to adulthood before you can have any lasting impression on even a singular youth. What’s most frustrating is the OP continuing to defend themself (like this post is even semi justifiable) and concludes the thread with strait evidence of their stalking. “Only he/she/them without sin may cast the first stone.” Your life must be so miserable paying into your karmic balance like this. If you want to do what’s “right” you’d learn how to communicate and teach it to others. You could have started with the family enjoying the day as they walked their dog. If you communicate properly you’d be heard. Instead even the ones in charge of the policing told you to mind your own business and told you to contact the police so they too could laugh at your request and tell you the exact same thing. Who’s gonna police the police? The police in this here question being you.