NILES Officials eye dog policy

Under the current city law, a dog is labeled vicious after it bites someone.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- City officials are looking into ways to strengthen the city's vicious dog ordinance.
Law Director J. Terrence Dull said he is trying to get a copy of an ordinance recently passed in Parma. That ordinance applies the vicious label to certain breeds of dog.
City law labels a dog as vicious after it bites someone. The owner then must keep the dog on a chain when it is off their property. When the animal is outside on its owner's property, it must be caged or kept in an enclosed area that has a top to prevent the dog from jumping out.
Official's concern: "What I'm concerned about in my ward is there are three Rottweilers and next door there's a 2-year-old boy," said Councilman Reginald F. Giancola Jr., D-3rd, who is seeking the legislation.
Although the dogs are fenced in, he's concerned about the harm they could do to the boy if they got out. Giancola said he'd like a requirement that the owner of a vicious dog carry liability insurance included in a stricter ordinance.
Dull said city officials have received complaints from people concerned about dog attacks after recent incidents in Youngstown. An elderly man was hospitalized after a dog attack.
Also on agenda: In other business Wednesday, council authorized Donald Allen, safety director, to advertise for bids and enter a contract to buy 35 handguns and laser sights for the police department.
The city received a $43,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The city's share is $4,300. Police Chief Bruce Simeone said the police department uses 9 mm handguns but the plan is to buy .357-caliber guns. Simeone said that studies have shown the higher-caliber weapons are better suited for city police.
Grant money already has been used to buy water safety equipment, devices used to stop vehicles fleeing from police, and a speed trailer, which is a portable mechanism posted along the side of the road that displays the speed of motorists as they drive by.
Laser sights project a red beam onto an object or person at which it is aimed. A public hearing on the use of the grant money is set for 5 p.m. April 18.