City makes changes to "nuisance dog" laws

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- Months after an 89-year-old Waterbury woman was mauled by two neighborhood pit bulls there are some changes to the city's dog laws .

The Waterbury Board of Alderman has voted to make changes involving "nuisance dogs."

A positive turn in the story is that the once very active 89-year-old woman is walking again. That was questionable a few months ago. News 8's Erin Logan met with her Tuesday afternoon, and also spoke with Alderman Ernest Brunelli and others in Waterbury about the city's tougher dog ordinances.

"I'm feeling much better," said Lena Poidomani, dog attack victim, "much better."

She certainly is. Poidomani's family thought they were going to lose her after she was attacked by two neighborhood pit bulls. Now, she's walking again.

"I had surgery on my foot a few weeks ago," she said.

The incident happened over six months ago.

"This dog bite my arm," she said. "I said I couldn't believe it, right in my yard."

It was that day, that Alderman Ernest Brunelli started getting to work on toughening the city's dog ordinances. The entire community was concerned.

"None of us could believe it, we were all in shock," said Rich Dihlman.

Neighbor Rich Dihlman was happy to hear about the changes that passed unanimously last night by the Board of Aldermen.

"What it is is a common sense approach law and we want people to be responsible with their pets," said Brunelli.

The ordinances call for stricter enclosures, leash laws, muzzles, signs, and language changes.

Brunelli says many people have been asking him all along about the language regarding types of dogs.

"There must be a registered complaint and then he's deemed a vicious or nuisance dog," Brunelli explained.

"So, there's no specific breed in particular," asked Logan.

"No," he replied.

Brunelli says the owners must house the dogs in a secure enclosure with a chain link fence at least six feet high.

"Especially a dog that's uncontrollable, you should be walking it in public with a harness and a leash," Brunelli said.

If you have any type of guard dog it must be trained, insured, and there must be a sign on your property.

Some say with or without the changes, there are too many people with animals who aren't cared for properly.

"I'm responsible for him and people should be responsible for their animals," said Dihlman.

Brunelli says the new rules take effect in 30 days. The fines are $250 for the first offense and they double after that.

Brunelli is also working on another ordinance that would hold absentee landlords accountable. He believes that would've helped in Poidomani's case, where he was told those dog owners were never around.