‘Vicious’ dogs get reprieve under Warren policy change

The Warren Town Council Voted Tuesday to remove a requirement that owners of American pit bulls and other “vicious” breeds of dogs register them with the town, following a complaint by a dog owner.

Child Street resident David Silvia, who owns one of the dogs listed as “vicious” in Ordinance Section 3-32.1, complained that the ordinance is discriminatory. Warren Town Manager Jan Reitsma said town officials brought to the matter to Warren Town Solicitor Tony DeSisto, who advised them that such references are indeed seen as discriminatory under state law.

After the solicitor’s ruling, the council last month passed the first reading of an ordinance change that would exclude the offending passage and its requirements, which include not only registration but also $100,000 in liability insurance. The second reading, and a unanimous vote on the matter, took place Tuesday.

The passage struck from the ordinances reads:

“Registration of certain breeds of dogs required. Any person having custody, ownership or control of any American pit bull dog pit bull terrier dog or Staffordshire terrier dog must register said dog with the town on a form provided by the town. Said town shall require the following information: name, address and telephone number of the dog's owner; the address where said dog is harbored, if different from the owner's address; dog's sex, color, rabies certificate and tag number and other distinguishing physical characteristics of the dog, as well as proof of liability insurance of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for such registration.