If I am not mistaken I believe there is a leash law around here.  
 
On several occassions we have had LARGE black rotweiller with no leash or collar roaming around our neighbor's yards and comes into our garage and yard. There are lots of small children around here. I do not appreciate dog owners who have no consideration for their neighbors or their animals. Unfortunately, it is very possible that the dog could hurt a child or an adult. I have called the Animal Control Dept. several times and i am sure the dog is already moved on by the time the truck gets to our street.  
 
I am unable to corral the dog because he has no collar.  Next time I will try to follow him in my car.  
Any ideas would be appreciated!

I was almost finished with a long post.  Somehow I lost it.  Here's an abbreviated version.  As much as I love to disagree with you, Meredith,  I have had this problem.  But I don't think this is just a Bluff Park problem.  Can anyone tell me exactly what the leash laws are?  I always thought - 'no dog outside a fence without a leash'.  Most times, the dogs do have identification and I can call the owner.  Sometimes I have to run them off, which is very hard for me as an animal lover.  I can't have my one outdoor cat threatened by dogs.

Woohoo!!  There's something here for all of us.  I love common ground and an open mind.  Whatever is wrong, we can fix if we work together.  Communication is critical...

Quote from meredithshepherd on 09/09/07 at 6:42pm:

 
First chance I've had to post about this since I read the original post.
 
After reading the post I had to drive to Homewood.  Guess what was walking outside of my house?  The Rotweiller!  I started to follow him, while calling Hoover PD.  HPD advised that they would send an officer by.  I followed the dog to Kenbridge Circle (at one point he went right into a large group of children!).  He went right to one house on Kenbridge, into the backyard.  A man was there and I asked him if it was his dog.  He said yes, had he killed anyone (joking - ha, ha)?  I said no.  Just then HPD called me (I gave them my cell phone number) and the officer asked about the dog.  I told him that he went home and gave him the address.  The officer said he would take a note on it.
 
The laws are simple:  Your dog gets out and gets picked up, it gets taken to Vestavia Animal Clinic (if they're open).  You get to bail them out for $25.  Next time the fine is higher and the last time it's even higher, plus you get a ticket.  Now that was several years ago when we had a dog that enjoyed escaping out of our yard, so things may have changed.
 
In the meanwhile, I think this is a good way of using the forum, to communicate.  If anyone wants to know the exact address of the dog, PM me and I'll send it to you.

Quote from fitgrl on 09/09/07 at 9:20pm:

 
Call the Animal Control Department at 444-7760 and explain the situation to them.  It is unlikely that they will need anything written, just an address.  From there, they will most likely trap the dogs and have the owners bail them out or take them back to the owners but still fine them.

Leash Law..whats that? Oh you mean that thing where they warn you, fine you, final step arrest you? Or shall we just skip to Plan B and have what happen to a family member of my home, no warning, to fines, just arrested. What was this over, oh just a neighbor called the police to say my 3lbs dog was in his yard. Cute huh?

I checked for the sign I saw and it was gone.
As to one of the other posters had said there is one of the same down at the Pig also in Alford Ave Vet office . I guess its a different dog than the one from the original post.. being that he is home now.

I totally agree, PharmD.

What makes me mad about dog owners who have HUGE dogs and walk them on a leash is that they let their dogs "do their business" on other people's lawns and don't clean it up.    
 
I have just had the misfortune of mowing my lawn where it appears that on a certain section a whole herd of "large elephants" must have been housed unbeknownst to me because it was awful!  Right by my mailbox where I have to stand to get my mail is another favorite place for these "large elephants".  I have yet to see any large dogs running around off a leash in my area, so I know the owner's have to be allowing this.
 
People, for goodness sake, be a conscientious and considerate neighbor and carry a Pooper Scooper and plastic bag with you when you walk these elephants!  I shouldn't have to clean up after your animal, and I shouldn't have to hose down my mower because I didn't see your animal's "business" in time!
 
I'm an animal lover and have a very small dog who is allowed out on a leash in my own backyard, and I clean up after it!

Wouldn't  it be GREAT if moth balls worked at stop signs!!!!!!