LEASH-LAW VIOLATORS COLLARED.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer

As San Fernando Valley residents continue to defy dog leash laws, animal control officials say they are increasing crackdowns in city parks and handing out more $76 tickets.

Rangers and the Department of Animal Regulation cited nearly 20 people at Valley parks Saturday for allowing their dogs to run loose. At least seven citations were handed out at Serrania Avenue Park in Woodland Hills, and at least 10 more were issued at Laurel Canyon Park, officials said.

``This is not new, but it's definitely an increasing effort because more and more complaints are coming in about loose dogs - and there's increasing numbers of dog bite lawsuits,'' said Chief Park Ranger Hector Hernandez.

Park rangers don't keep tallies on the number of tickets they write, but Hernandez said rangers and the Department of Animal Regulation are working together to increase enforcement.

``Basically, in response to the complaints, we're sending the task force out whenever we have the staff to do it,'' Hernandez said.

Los Angeles is not unique in its crackdown.

In New York City, efforts to curb leashlessness escalated this month as police and the Parks Department issued 450 citations.

In Santa Fe, N.M., last year, a resident filed a $2 million suit against the city, charging ``Gestapo-style'' enforcement of the leash law.

While the issue might seem silly to some, Madeline Bernstein with the Los Angeles chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the laws significantly affect residents' lives.

``These people don't think it's silly. They may live in a small apartment and have no place to run their dogs without driving 10 miles,'' Bernstein said. ``People feel they are being penalized for spending quality time with their pets.''

Dawn Johanssen, for example, said she will continue bringing her Labrador named Biko to Serrania to run leashless despite the crackdowns.

``It's ridiculous. They're just dogs and they shouldn't be ticketing,'' Johannsen said. ``This is really the only nearby place to bring him.''

Adding to the pressure to enforce leash laws is the recent surge in pit bull attacks.

``People have said that park rangers are supposed to be nice people, and now we're getting flak for being proactive,'' Hernandez said. ``Sometimes people get belligerent. They ask why we are writing tickets instead of doing more important things.''

Dog owners feel they're going to ``do what they want to do'' because they feel like they're acting responsibly, said J'Hana Brueske, owner of the Academy of Dog behavior in North Hollywood.

They are acting foolishly, she said.

``They feel like dogs should be able to run free, but that's bunk. A dog could get injured or killed, or they could injure someone else,'' Brueske said.