NILES Council decides against pet-limit ordinance

One councilman has received numerous calls from residents against the animal limit.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- It didn't take long for legislators to stop pursuing passage of a potentially controversial ordinance.
Within hours after Councilman Stephen Papalas introduced legislation to limit the number of dogs and cats a resident could own, he said he'll let the measure die.
It would have limited ownership to no more than three cats and three dogs per resident.
Though the first reading of the legislation passed unanimously at Wednesday's council meeting, Papalas said Thursday morning he wants council members to have more time to hear from constituents.
New ordinances require three readings before passage unless it is introduced as an emergency."
'Won't fly'
Obviously it won't fly and we will just have to enforce what we already have on the books," he said.
The ordinance was designed to hold accountable residents who have "multiple dogs or cats and failed to control the noise, odor or other nuisance-type activities of these animals."
While the proposed legislation specifically limited the number of the most common household pets, it did not mention any other domestic or exotic animal that could be kept as a pet.
Papalas said only dogs and cats were mentioned because those are the animals that are the focus of the most complaints.
Law isn't wanted
Based on what he heard from callers Thursday, Papalas said, it was clear the law isn't wanted by residents.
"I spoke with one woman who was in tears because her dogs are all she has," he said. "That did it for me."
The ordinance will not appear on the agenda for council's Sept. 3 meeting, he said, meaning it will die for a lack of action.
Instead, he said, city officials will work with the police and health departments to enforce current laws regarding excessive noise, animals at large and health nuisances.
slshaulis@vindy.com