WARREN, Mich. – Residents who live in Warren and own dogs, you might want to do a little more when it comes to their barking.
The Warren City Council planned to vote on two new city ordinances but chose to delay the vote on one while unanimously approving the other.
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The ordinance amendment pertaining to the use of the Warren city “dawn” logo and seal, which had been previously postponed, will remain on hold until the July 22 meeting.
However, the council did unanimously pass a new animal ordinance that had been under development for an extended period.
The ordinance sets out regulations covering various issues such as the ownership and care of chickens, rules for dog tethering, and updated definitions for classifying dogs as dangerous or potentially dangerous.
One change shifts the offense of owning a dog that barks or howls persistently from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction. Documents explaining these changes noted that animal control officers previously struggled to enforce the rule because by the time they responded, the dog often had stopped making noise. Tickets could only be issued if the barking was heard firsthand. With the update to a civil infraction, officers can now issue citations without needing to hear the noise themselves.
The ordinance limits animal tethering to no more than three hours total per day and bans animal breeding within city limits.
It also introduces new regulations for animal shelters that operate using foster homes instead of a physical facility. These shelters must maintain a working relationship with a veterinarian, use formal adoption contracts, keep thorough records, have nonprofit status, and register with the city.