It costs Seattle U students $45,765 a year to attend the south of Capitol Hill campus but many neighborhood dogs have been freely enjoying the fields of academia — off leash.

But now the school and its popular Union Green, one of Capitol Hill’s most popular “secret” off-leash play areas, is off-limits. Seattle University has changed its policies and now requires all canine visitors to be leashed:

“For the safety and wellbeing of our campus community and all visitors, dogs are now required to be on leash and under control of their owners at all times while on campus,” the university announcement reads. “This policy is consistent with the City of Seattle’s leash laws.”

Tipsters say the change came after some naughty owner behavior including a few good dogs allowed to get too rough, start fights, and deliver a few bites.

“The university previously allowed owners to keep dogs under leash or voice control. An increasing number of visitors have failed to follow that policy, however,” the Seattle U statement provided to CHS by a school spokesperson reads. “This has resulted in aggressive dog behavior and has caused a number of recent health and safety issues.”

While the Union Green is routinely closed to doggo activity during the winter, the policy change means the end of romps in the final crisp days of fall and no hope for more come spring.

Dog owners around the Hill can turn to the nearby official parks where off-leash dogs are allowed like Plymouth Pillars and the Colonnade but the new Seattle U rules have also brought larger packs to the grass of Cal Anderson and Volunteer Park where it is against the law to let your dogs roam unleashed.

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