Residents press Davie council on animal‑control rules; town says ordinance changes will mirror state law

Residents raised animal‑control concerns at the Jan. 6 Davie Town Council meeting, including questions about how the town defines and measures “excessive noise” related to animals and whether dogs should be required to be leashed on private front yards.

Janet Martine noted a recent code amendment (approved 5‑0) that removed Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 66 (titled “excessive noise”) and asked council how Section “15 7 3” (the provision on animals and birds) defines frequency, duration and noise disturbance and how inspectors identify the offending animal. She requested clarification on enforcement standards.

Later, Jacob Walowitz described repeated encounters with off‑leash pit bulls at his neighbor’s property and urged the council to require dogs to be kept on a leash even on private front yards, citing safety concerns for people and other pets. Walowitz said one of his dogs had been attacked and that he intends to bring dog‑attack victims to a future meeting.

Town staff (identified in the meeting as Mr. Weinthall) responded that the town is updating its dog ordinance to conform with changes in state dangerous‑dog law. He clarified that as currently drafted, keeping a dog off‑leash on one’s own property is not automatically a crime; enforcement can occur if a dog is running at large or the animal is vicious. Staff invited residents to provide additional evidence if they wish to pursue enforcement.

The council did not take immediate regulatory action at the meeting; staff indicated an ordinance update is underway to align local code with state statute.