Warren council weighs dog-problem options

WARREN — City council members are exploring various options to solve the dog complaints they have been receiving.

Council President Robert Marchese said there has been an increase of reports related to violent dog activity.

“Its a twofold problem. People violate the law and misuse animals,” Marchese said Monday.

Police Chief John Mandopoulos said he does not have any officers to respond to every dog call. There is one full-time dog warden for the city and he does not have enough equipment to capture every dog.

The dog warden’s truck holds only one dog at a time, and the option council explored was purchasing a new truck that can hold more than one dog.

Mandopoulos said people call in and complain about a pit bull when, in actuality, its not a pit bull. He said callers think police will respond more quickly if they say the dog is a pit bull terrier.

He said Warren is not allowed to use tranquilizing darts like Youngstown does, and he doesn’t know if enacting a law like the one Youngstown has on the table will work for Warren.

“We wouldn’t know how to enforce it,” Mandopoulous said.

Youngstown City Council is contemplating legislation that would ban the future ownership of pit bulls and put restrictions in place for current owners of the dogs.