Seasonal changes in off-leash areas in Steamboat Springs, including Whistler Park and Butcherknife Trail, will start this week as city officials begin to transition sections of both parks from their winter to summer rules.

Animal control officer Jennifer Good said signs are posted at the entry and exit points at the two parks where seasonal changes take place.

The animal control officer added that now is a good time of year for dog owners to review their responsibilities and make sure they are adhering to the rules and regulations. Whether their pups are in an on-leash or off-leash area, dog owners are still required to remove excrement, monitor their pet’s behavior and keep their pets on-leash when entering or leaving an off-leash area.

“Animal owners are supposed to be responsible for their animal’s behavior,” Good said. “Knowing the animal ordinances and they need to know where the (dog) can be off-leash and where they’re not supposed to be off-leash. It’s also important to respect other trail users and park users by following the municipal code for the animal rules, making sure that their animals are licensed, dogs are wearing their license and vaccinations are up to date. It is also a good idea to have an (identification tag) on your dog in case it gets lost.”

She said pet owners need to monitor their dog’s behavior, and dogs off-leash should be able to respond to voice commands. In the last year, animal control handled 763 calls for service, including 73 bite reports, and issued 90 citations.

This time of year, owners should also be aware of seasonal changes at both Whistler Park and Butcherknife Tail.

The southeast segment of Whistler Park (which includes the sports fields and playground) will transition to requiring a leash on Wednesday, and the west portion of the dog area (which is leash-required in the winter due to elk winter range) will transition to off-leash during the summer. Those changes will take place starting Wednesday and will run through Oct. 31.

Starting June 9, school-hour leash restrictions on Butcherknife Trail will be removed for the summer while the students who regularly use the trail begin their summer break.

Dog owners should be aware that the off-leash area is only the section from the bridge to the “Y” of the trail, and other portions of the trial still require dogs to be on-leash. Once school starts in August, leash requirements go back into place.

In all off-leash areas, dogs are required to be on-leash on surrounding trails leading into the off-leash areas, as well as in the parking lots.

Rita Valentine Park and the lower pond at Spring Creek are the only two officially approved dog parks in Steamboat Springs. Butcherknife Trail, Sailors Way and Whistler Park are trail areas. All of the areas are open one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.

“The transition of seasons brings changes all around us, and that is true this time of year for the city’s two off-leash areas,” Community Service Supervisor Krista Amatuzio said. “Please be respectful of each other and follow the rules so that all park users, both two- and four-legged, get the most out of these areas.”