Animal-rights activists want Youngstown to do more to help chained-up dogs

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

About a dozen animal-rights activists rallied outside city hall to raise awareness of the plight of chained-up dogs in Youngstown.

The city has had an anti-tethering law since February 2015. But there are numerous issues with the law, making it largely toothless, said Jason Cooke, a local animal-rights activist, during Wednesday’s rally.

Among the problems, he said, are the law doesn’t require a seizure of dogs if an owner violates the ordinance and there isn’t much enforcement of it.

Cooke said Youngstown should make changes to the law including allowing all police agencies – and not just city officers and the Mahoning County dog warden – to enforce it.

“How much longer do dogs have to suffer at the end of chains before something is done?” Cooke said.

Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th, said the city needs better enforcement of its current laws.

“If that’s not enough, we’ll definitely look at changes,” she said.