Howard Street residents may find a pending dog ordinance to be the answer to their prayers, but city officials know gratitude may not by the only reaction the proposal will create.

Corporation Counsel John Rossi recognizes giving the city more control over dogs is a volatile subject. He thinks people will react to this proposal because it will change the way people have to handle their own dogs, but also because owners of the two singled out breeds, Dobermans and pit bulls, may also complain about the measure.

The Auburn City Council will review a proposal Thursday that addresses prolonged barking, imposes a lease law, and requires cages, fences or other constraints for animals identified as violent. The council will review the concept this week and possibly make changes.

Frequent complaints, such as those from neighbors on Howard Street, and two vicious dog attacks on pets have caused the city to draft an animal control ordinance.

"The ordinance had to be updated and modernized. There were amendments over the years, but we needed an overhaul," Rossi said.

For more on this story, read Tuesday's edition of The Citizen.