“What can we do?” said City Councilor Rodney Elliott, who raised the issue. “What do we have at our disposal as a city to prevent this from happening again?”

At the end of the nearly 2-hour meeting, the council took a first step toward trying to prevent another vicious dog attack. It voted unanimously, 8-0, to have the city manager investigate “the viability of measures” that can be taken “against certain breeds of dogs,” according to the motion passed at the meeting.

LOWELL — The City Council opened its meeting Tuesday night with a moment of silence for the 7-year-old boy killed in a pit bull attack Saturday on Clare Street .


Lowell tried several years ago to ban pit bulls, after a string of vicious attacks. But the ban was overturned after the state passed a law preventing local communities from banning specific breeds of dogs.

Some councilors referenced the state law, but said the child’s death compels them to take action.

“Something needs to be done,” said Councilor James Milinazzo. “We need . . . tougher laws.”

Councilor William Samaras noted that its “very difficult to design a plan” that meets state law and animal anti-discrimination laws.

“But this happened to a 7-year-old child,” he said. “A 7-year-old child should be relatively safe in the city of Lowell.”

“This is one of the worst stories I’ve heard in a long time,” he said. “Just horrific.”

City Manager Kevin Murphy has already reached out to the child’s family and offered the city’s support, councilors said. Local businesses have chipped in to pay for his funeral costs, including a burial plot, councilors said.

The boy, who attended Lowell Public Schools, has not been publicly identified. He was mauled to death early Saturday night after entering a fenced area where two pit bulls were being kept at a home on Clare Street.


One of the dogs was euthanized. The other escaped and was later captured and placed into the custody of the city’s animal control office.

Jake Johnson can be reached at jake.johnson@globe.com