Kenosha committee affirms county’s dangerous-animal finding for Layla and authorizes humane destruction

The Kenosha Public Safety Committee on Nov. 10 affirmed a Kenosha County Public Health Department declaration that Layla, an English bully, is a dangerous animal and authorized her humane destruction under Kenosha ordinance 14.075.

County Health representative Mark Nolosik told the committee the county declared the dog dangerous after two unprovoked bite incidents off the owner’s property — Oct. 3, 2024, and Aug. 6, 2025 — and that the address generated repeated citations and service calls. "We reported dog dangerous on October 7, because it had two bites off premise that were unprovoked," Nolosik said during his presentation.

Neighbors gave detailed statements describing recurring problems. Deanna Riggio of 5426 42nd Avenue said she reported multiple at‑large incidents and that, on Aug. 6, Layla “lunged in and bit my left lower inner thigh,” leaving a puncture wound that she treated at home. Peggy Buckle recounted several summer incidents in which Layla and her puppies roamed off‑leash and at one point surrounded an elderly neighbor in an intersection, prompting multiple nonemergency calls to police.

CSO Rachel Hamm of the Kenosha Police Department told the committee officers had responded dozens of times to that address and that "we have had over 10 generated calls to the address regarding these dogs" and at least two bites on record. The City Attorney recited the committee’s options under city code: "You are asked to answer whether to affirm, conditionally affirm, or reject the Kenosha County Public Health Department’s dangerous animal declaration," and explained that an affirmation can require the committee to determine whether to order humane destruction under subsection f.

Owner Ellie Fry told the committee she is a single mother of five and said she has taken steps to rehome some puppies, that Layla was at the Humane Society at the time of the meeting, and that she could not afford a new fence. Fry disputed aspects of the timeline for one bite incident and said she did not intentionally let dogs loose; she also apologized for the incidents. "I apologize for all of the incidents," Fry said, while also explaining household constraints.

After committee members discussed enforcement options — including imposing the ordinance’s restrictions (fencing, signage and insurance), requiring removal from the city with proof within a set period, or euthanasia — a member moved to affirm the county’s dangerous‑animal declaration. The motion carried. The committee then voted to authorize humane destruction of Layla under Kenosha ordinance 14.075 f. Members expressed regret about the decision and emphasized it was taken after professional recommendations and repeated neighborhood complaints.

The committee did not identify a rehoming plan on the record; staff said removal from the city has historically been difficult to enforce and that repeat calls to the address had continued. The meeting record indicates the committee completed roll‑call voting and then moved on to remaining agenda items.