A few weeks ago DCist dug into status of dogs in the district. Needless to say, pet owners and non-owners alike had a few things to say about the availability of dog parks and picking up poochs’ poop. Now we hear about the case of Deputy White House Spokesman Dana Perino’s husband, who spent a day in jail for his failure to keep his canine companion on a leash.

Back in November, Perino’s husband, British businessman Peter McMahon, was walking their dog Henry — leashless — in Lincoln Park just east of the Capitol.

According to the original complaint, obtained by Yeas & Nays, Officer Stephen Smith of the Park Police asked him to “gain control of” Henry, an 8-year-old Vizsla breed, and “put him on a leash.”

McMahon replied that he didn’t have a leash, so Smith issued him a violation notice, complete with a $25 fine. “Why don’t you go chase down some squirrels,” McMahon then suggested to the officer.

McMahon had 15 days to pay the fine, but he says the citation didn’t give an address where a check could be sent. Finally, after mailing the $25 to an incorrect Park Police address, McMahon learned a warrant had been issued for his arrest. On April 12, when he actually went to Park Police headquarters to settle up, he was thrown in jail for several hours.

Has anyone else received a similar ticket and had your attempts at paying the fine thwarted? Is such a fine and imprisonment even reasonable? Are there any places in the city where dogs are allowed to roam leash-free?

Photo by Flickr user easement.