Problems lead council to review dog regulations

Council seeks money to help stimulate redevelopment of vacant industrial land.
STRUTHERS -- City council plans to review police records and city laws regulating at-large and vicious dogs, after several residents in the area of Ridgeway Street complained of ongoing problems with a neighbor's dogs.
One man said the neighbor's two dogs are frequently running loose, and one night they came into his yard and attacked his dog, which was tied up. He had to take the dog to an emergency animal clinic, and said if a neighbor would not have helped chase the dogs away, his dog would have been killed.
Residents said they want tougher laws put on city books before a child is injured or killed.
Council members said they would review recordings of calls to the police station. Although residents said they have made numerous calls about the dogs running loose in recent weeks, the safety service director said he could find no written reports about the calls.
Getting residents involved
Council members urged residents to call police whenever they see the dogs are loose.
Another neighbor said she was bitten two years ago by one of the dogs while she was riding her bicycle. She said people are afraid to go outside, and there are many children in the neighborhood.
The man has been cited for having dogs running at large, and if convicted, each additional citation can have stiffer penalties, council members said.
In other business, council voted to ask U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, for federal money to help stimulate redevelopment of vacant industrial land. The council is seeking $400,000 to extend the roadway at CASTLO Industrial Park and $320,000 to rehabilitate and upgrade an existing sewer lift station that serves the area.
With council's approval, the safety service director will advertise for bids for city street resurfacing. The cost is not to exceed $178,000, and will be paid from 2005 community development block grant funding.