A Romulus resident told the City Council Monday that repeated encounters with a neighbor’s large off-leash dog have left her fearful on her own property and asked the council to adopt a local leash law.

Denise Pierce described a September incident in which a large dog entered her backyard and frightened her, and she said repeated encounters with the same animal, which she described as “really muscular,” persist. “I’m asking — please get something together so that there’s a leash law in this city,” Pierce said.

Council members and staff responded that enforcement options are being developed. Councilwoman Abdo said the ordinance department is drafting a leash ordinance and expects to bring proposed language before council in January. Multiple council members also noted that state law includes leash and dog-bite statutes that can be enforced; the transcript records members saying state statute language will be shared with ordinance staff to assist enforcement.

Council members and staff said enforcement steps have already included outreach to the dog’s owner and that ordinance and police staff have been involved. The meeting record does not show any new citation issued during the meeting; council members said ordinance language will be presented for formal action in January so that enforcement can proceed under a local ordinance as well as under relevant state law.

The complaint also prompted council members to call for better communication with residents about enforcement actions. The transcript does not identify formal penalties that will be included in the draft ordinance, and the timetable beyond the January introduction was not specified.