AUBURN - A proposed ordinance that would give the city of Auburn more control over its residents' dogs will see some changes before the city council can vote on it.

City officials will revisit a pending dog ordinance Thursday during a work session at the Auburn City Council meeting. Though the public will not be heard during the meeting, counselors will discuss the ordinance and possible revisions, according to city officials.

Corporation Counsel John Rossi said that regulations specific to the breed of a dog will likely be eliminated from the ordinance. Some of its provisions will also been rewritten to conform with the state laws that regulate how dogs are allowed to be treated, according to Rossi.

The ordinance addresses issues such as barking and noise, limits the number and size of dogs some residents can own, and requires constraints such as cages, fences and even muzzles for dogs considered to be violent. It was drafted in response to complaints relating to aggressive dogs and attacks on pets within the city.

The possibility for changes came after city officials received responses from concerned residents and pet-advocacy groups over aspects of the ordinance, including provisions that impose stronger restrictions on pit bulls and Dobermans than other breeds. One of the groups was the American Kennel Club, which sent a critique of the original draft to the city, Rossi said.

“We have made an effort to incorporate suggestions from the Kennel Club and the public in revising the ordinance,” Rossi said Tuesday. “(The city council) is going to discuss it further and see if further revision might be required.”

Councilor Matt Smith said that the issue has generated a lot of public response because dog ownership is an issue that is important to many people in the community. For Smith, it is important that the ordinance takes care of irresponsible dog owners so that neighborhoods are not held captive by threatening dogs, he said. But Smith said he believes provisions limiting the size and number of dogs allowed to be kept in certain residences are too extreme.

“This did turn into a hot topic. It is a quality of life issue for people,” Smith said.

The proposed ordinance would also allow the city to issue citations to residents whose dogs engage in unreasonable howling, barking or other noise. Councilor Thomas McNabb said that the most public feedback he receives concerning dogs relates to such noise.

“People take off in the morning, leave their dogs and just leave food and water for them,” McNabb said. “In the meantime, the dogs howl, and we hear about them.”

Those in violation of the ordinance would receive an initial fine of $20, and subsequent violations within a five-year period would result in fines of $30 for a second, $50 for a third and $100 for a fourth offense.

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said Tuesday that he had not yet seen changes or new information for the dog ordinance, but both he and City Manager Mark Palesh are aware of the public's concern over it.

“Either everyone will be comfortable with the new language, or members of the council and I will seek further revisions,” Quill said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.