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Council approves first reading of animal ordinance updates; members flag chickens, feeders and dangerous-dog enforcement
Summary
Warren City Council approved first-reading amendments to Chapter 7 of the city code governing treatment of animals, with council members asking for clarifications on community cat feeding, bird-feeder limits, chicken coops and dangerous-dog enforcement tied to property maintenance records.
The Warren City Council on June 10 approved first reading of proposed amendments to Chapter 7 of the Warren Code of Ordinances addressing animal treatment, with multiple council members asking staff to refine language on several operational points before second reading.
Council members praised the comprehensive work behind the draft while requesting clarifications on specific provisions. Council member McGee and others asked why the draft raised the chicken-ownership limit from three to four and how registration and inspection of coops would be administered. “I still would like to know who is policing the chickens,” McGee said during discussion.
Members also flagged a strict community-cat feeding policy and a two-bird-feeder limit they described as potentially unreasonable for some residents. Council member comments asked staff to align zoning inspection and clerk registration processes so responsibilities are clear; the new draft aims to consolidate enforcement roles that were previously unclear.
A significant portion of the discussion addressed dangerous- and potentially dangerous-dog provisions. Council members recounted previous attacks and stressed the need to tie animal-control records to property-maintenance records so the city could document prior inspections, fencing complaints or unsafe conditions. Council member Mazzarelli said the ordinance should ensure “immediacy” of response and clear authority among police, animal control and the court when dangerous-dog incidents occur.
The first-reading motion carried; council members asked staff to incorporate clearer cross-references to animal-control, police response and property-maintenance records and to confirm inspection and registration procedures for backyard coops ahead of the second reading.
Why it matters: The ordinance aims to modernize animal regulations, consolidate enforcement responsibility, and respond to past incidents that council members said threatened public safety. The changes could affect residents who keep chickens, feed community cats, or maintain bird feeders.
Ending: Staff will reconcile the ordinance text with zoning and clerk procedures and return with refined language before the second reading.
