The recent tragedy of a boy being killed by a pit bull in Lowell is causing city officials to take a new look at safety regulations.The city of Lowell adopted an ordinance back in 2011 that was a strict enforcement for pit bull owners. The ordinance required pit bulls to be spayed or neutered, limited owners to having two pit bulls and that the dogs be muzzled or kept in a secure enclosure. City Councilor Rodney Elliott said they saw improvements, but the ordinance was voided when a state law made it illegal to regulate dogs specific to their breed. Days after a 7-year-old boy entered a fenced-in area and was attacked and killed, Elliot is looking to reintroduce that ordinance in a stiffer manner. “I think this is a call for the state and state legislators to revisit exactly what they adopted,” Elliot said. “The strength, the power, and the aggressive nature of this dog is different from other dogs.” In this case, the ordinance would not have applied because the dogs were kept in an enclosed environment. Elliot said he plans on reintroducing the order Tuesday and this time call for a citywide ban. “We’re a dog friendly city, but this particular breed should not be allowed in the city of Lowell,” Elliot said. The ASPCA said they oppose dangerous dog laws, saying a dog’s breed does not determine its dangerousness.

The recent tragedy of a boy being killed by a pit bull in Lowell is causing city officials to take a new look at safety regulations.

The city of Lowell adopted an ordinance back in 2011 that was a strict enforcement for pit bull owners. The ordinance required pit bulls to be spayed or neutered, limited owners to having two pit bulls and that the dogs be muzzled or kept in a secure enclosure.


City Councilor Rodney Elliott said they saw improvements, but the ordinance was voided when a state law made it illegal to regulate dogs specific to their breed.

Days after a 7-year-old boy entered a fenced-in area and was attacked and killed, Elliot is looking to reintroduce that ordinance in a stiffer manner.

“I think this is a call for the state and state legislators to revisit exactly what they adopted,” Elliot said. “The strength, the power, and the aggressive nature of this dog is different from other dogs.”

In this case, the ordinance would not have applied because the dogs were kept in an enclosed environment. Elliot said he plans on reintroducing the order Tuesday and this time call for a citywide ban.

“We’re a dog friendly city, but this particular breed should not be allowed in the city of Lowell,” Elliot said.

The ASPCA said they oppose dangerous dog laws, saying a dog’s breed does not determine its dangerousness.