Complaint Process
Definitions:
Formal Complaint - Complaints must be submitted in writing by e-mail to
cwedogpark@gmail.com - addressed to the CWEDP Board, alleging an incident or a conflict.
Dog attack An attack that results in bleeding or an injury requiring treatment. (This is the definition given by animal control.)
Incident Minor Single violation of a park rule that did not result in an injury to the dogs or their owners.
Incident Moderate Second or greater count violation of a park rule that did not result in an injury to the dogs or their owners.
Incident Major Second or greater count violation of a park rule after the CWEDP board has notified the party of the offense and has required compliance, e.g. repeated incident where a dog or person is intimidating or abusing other dogs or people, OR, single incident where an injury was sustained by dog or person.
Procedure:
1. When the Board receives a formal complaint, the President shall distribute the complaint to all CWEDP Board members, excluding any who are alleged to have been involved in the incident. A person, who communicates a complaint to a Board member orally, shall be informed that she/he must make the complaint in writing vial mail or e-mail if she/he wishes for the Board to take action. If the person making the oral complaint is unable to make a written complaint, the Board Member receiving the oral complaint shall reduce the substance of the complaint to writing and e-mail it to the CWEDP Board.
2. On the CWEDP Board's behalf, the Behaviorist(s) for the park will collect statements from all parties named in the incident and statements from any witnesses named in the incident and will distribute all statements to the CWEDP Board members.
3. Once collected and distributed, the Board will discuss and vote on what action, if any, to take. Actions may include but are not limited to: restricted use of the park, temporary or permanent bans on using the park, and/or dog training, behavioral evaluation or testing requirements. Additionally, the Board will report any dog attack(s) to the Animal Regulation Center as St. Louis City Ordinance 66595.§6.4 requires.
4. If the president is not involved in the incident and deems that a dog may pose a serious risk to the park, she/he may issue a temporary ban on the dog entering the park, pending the Board's investigation and vote, for a period to not exceed 2 weeks.
5. If the president is involved in the incident, her/his duties within the complaint process will fall to the vice president while the case is pending.
6. If the behaviorist is involved in the incident, her/his duties within the complaint process will fall to a CWEDP Board member appointed by the President while the case is pending.
7. If a CWEDP Board member is involved in the incident she/he will be excluded from the proceedings except for giving a written statement of what happened.