Southold eyes dog policy in town parks

Southold Town officials said they will take a look at their ordinances on dogs in town parks after a resident told them he had been attacked by two dogs at Bailie Beach in Mattituck.

Speaking at Tuesday's town board meeting, Mattituck resident Dan Catullo said he was walking on the beach about 1 1/2 months ago when the dogs attacked him. He would not describe the extent of his injuries, but said, "When you see a dog racing toward you with his mouth open, it's a bad situation."

The town does not have a "leash law" and instead allows dogs to run free with a stipulation that the animals be "under the owner's control."

But Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said he would take the issue up with the rest of the town board at its next meeting on July 3, to see whether it is "time" to put a leash law in place at town beaches, he said.

Russell said there also is a problem with owners not picking up after the dogs, as well.