Goochland County Enforces Spring Leash Rule to Protect Wildlife, Prevent Tick Bites

Every uncontrolled dog spotted roaming Goochland roads or neighborhoods between now and May 31 puts its owner at risk of a Class 4 misdemeanor citation and a fine of up to $250. The county's annual spring leash restriction, codified under Section 3-53 of the Goochland County Code, went into effect April 1 and runs through the end of May.

The ordinance defines "running at large" precisely: a dog that is "roaming, running or self-hunting while not under its owner's or custodian's immediate control" is considered at large. A dog that wanders a neighborhood without a leash qualifies, regardless of temperament or training history.

The two-month window is not arbitrary. Spring is simultaneously tick season and birthing season for Virginia's wildlife. Nymph-stage blacklegged ticks, the primary carriers of Lyme disease, reach peak activity in late spring and early summer; a dog returning from an unsupervised run through brush or tall grass can carry dozens home. At the same time, deer, rabbits, foxes, and ground-nesting birds across Goochland are raising young that have no ability to flee. An unrestrained dog does not need to be aggressive to scatter or kill a newborn fawn or destroy a ground nest.

The restriction on county-owned property is permanent and in force year-round. Dogs must be leashed at all times at Goochland parks, school grounds, and recreational facilities, spring or not.

The county's Department of Animal Care and Protection enforces the ordinance, authorized at the state level by Virginia Code § 3.2-6538. Residents who spot an uncontrolled dog can report it to Animal Protection at 804-556-5302. Animal bites should be reported separately to the Goochland County Sheriff's Department non-emergency line at 804-556-5348. If a dog is found running with other dogs in a pack, the owner faces an additional civil penalty of up to $100 per dog in the pack, compounding exposure well beyond the standard misdemeanor fine.

If an off-leash dog approaches while on a walk, remain calm and back away slowly without running, then report the encounter to Animal Protection.

Any dog over four months old also requires a county license, available at the Goochland Treasurer's Office at 1800 Sandy Hook Road. Wildlife conflicts such as a fox near livestock should be directed to the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Hotline at 855-571-9003. Residents looking to add a dog to their household can adopt through the county shelter for $90, a fee that covers spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, and diagnostics.