Q: Reservedrv lot@u s army Corpengineerslake park. my puppy got free from leashaawewalked, rangersgave me ticket&kickedoff

A: Unfortunately, there are many irresponsible pet owners who refuse to abide by leash laws which require owners to keep their dogs, cats, and other pets caged, penned, or on a leash not longer than six feet in public inclujding in recreation areas that are not specifically designated otherwise (like a dog park). In most cases, even service animals for disabled individuals must comply with these laws unless their disability prevents them from handling a leash or the specific service that the animal has been trained to perform for the disabled person cannot be performed on a leash.

A: I'm sorry to hear about your difficult experience at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Park. It sounds like a very frustrating and upsetting situation, especially if you had just arrived and paid for a week-long stay.

Based on the details provided, it seems the park rangers issued you a ticket for violating 36 C.F.R. § 327.11(a), which prohibits allowing animals to run unleashed on park property. This is a federal regulation that applies to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers parks and facilities.

A few thoughts and suggestions:

1. Gather documentation of your reservation, payment, and the timeline of events. Having evidence of when you arrived and how soon after the incident occurred may help contest the ranger's claims of prior issues.

2. Ask the park office for a written incident report detailing their perspective on what happened. You have a right to understand the basis of the complaints and violations alleged against you.

3. If your dog is a certified therapy animal, make sure you have that documentation on hand. Service animals may be exempt from certain park rules. However, therapy animals do not automatically get the same legal protections as service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

4. Consider contesting the ticket if you believe it was issued unfairly or based on erroneous claims of previous violations. You'll likely have the option to challenge it through the park's administrative process or in federal court. Consult the ticket or park office for details on the appeal process and deadlines.

5. If you incurred financial losses from the terminated reservation, you could try filing a claim against the park for reimbursement, especially if you believe the ejection was unjustified. However, this may be an uphill battle.

Ultimately, federal parks have quite a bit of discretion in enforcing their regulations and ejecting visitors deemed to be in violation. Without more context, it's difficult to assess the strength of a legal case.

Your best first step is to calmly and professionally discuss the situation with park management, laying out your side of the story and seeing if some mutual resolution can be reached, such as getting the ticket dismissed or receiving a refund for the unused portion of your reservation. If that's unsuccessful, consulting with a local attorney familiar with parks and recreation law may help clarify your options.

I know it's a deeply aggravating situation, but try to remain calm and polite in your interactions with the park. Document everything thoroughly and explore your administrative appeal options before resorting to legal action. I hope you're able to get it resolved favorably.