A public hearing on Lynn's “Vicious Dog” ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 402 at City Hall. This ordinance is sponsored by Councilman Wayne Lozzi and strengthens current vicious dog laws to protect the public from vicious dogs and their negligent owners.

Among other things, it would require that the owner of the property where a vicious dog resides take out a $100,000 liability insurance policy for the benefit of public safety. Even if you don't agree with this particular solution, your voice is needed to push through some kind of reform. With all the incidents of dog attacks that have been in the news for the past few years, it is time for Lynn to strengthen its dog ordinance.

The new ordinance stipulates that no owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Go to this public hearing and voice your concerns. Dog attacks are preventable if we enforce current laws, strengthen them where needed and make it difficult for negligent owners to keep them.