MAHONING COUNTY Officials pledge help to curb dog violations

YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County officials will pitch in to help rein in dogs running loose in Youngstown.
City police have investigated a rash of reports of dogs attacking people and animals. County commissioners have pledged money, equipment and manpower.
"Any time you have a children and senior citizens being attacked, we need to step forward," said Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock. "It's our obligation to assist the city."
Sherlock said that since March 1, the county dog warden's office has picked up 64 dogs running loose in the county; 53 of them in the city.
No warnings: Officials will take a zero-tolerance approach to people who fail to properly license or restrain their dogs, citing them into court without warnings first, Sherlock said.
Dog Warden Carol Markovich said that, alone, is not an effective deterrent since courts often impose less than the minimum fine.
Ohio law sets the fine at between $25 and $100, but courts often fine people $10, she said.
Markovich and Sherlock said they'll encourage courts to impose higher fines.
The county will also provide half the funding needed to hire an additional animal control officer to work in the city, Sherlock said.
It will be on a temporary basis and reviewed periodically to see how long the position should be continued, Sherlock said.
She said animal control officers will also conduct sweeps of city neighborhoods with high numbers of vacant homes, which stray dogs often use for shelter.