“Jocelyn’s Law” Taking Shape

Breeders’ permits. Inspections for breeding purposes. Microchipping of dogs. Litter permits.

Alders are considering some of those ideas to strengthen New Haven’s animal ordinance, in part to prevent repeats of horrific incidents like the mauling to death of a woman by two dogs in Beaver Hills.

The ideas emerged at a workshop at City Hall Wednesday helped by the Board of Alders Public Safety Committee, which has been studying revisions to the ordinance since the June 2016 mauling death of Jocelyn Winfrey.

During the meeting, the committee specifically narrowed in on New Britain’s regulations based on the perceived success of New Britain’s ordinance and on the recommendations of New Haven animal control Officer Joseph Manganiello.

“All this stuff that we’re really discussing is really pointing at being a responsible pet owner and showing responsible pet ownership and really getting folks to do the right thing with regards to their animals,” said Manganiello.

The meeting follows a public hearing on the matter and serves as a preliminary step to reforming the city’s animal policies with hopes of submitting a draft ordinance change to the full board on July 2.

“That’s what we’re really talking about – having a draft to work with,” said Antunes.

The committee discussed honoring and recognizing Winfrey by calling the bill ​“Jocelyn’s Law.”

​“I want to let them know that we care about the animals as well. We’re coming up with this ordinance because of what happened with Jocelyn, but the truth of the matter is we want to protect them too,” said Beaver Hills Alder Brian Wingate.

The committee discussed roots of the problem involving vicious dogs, including unscientific breeding, which yields medically unsafe and poorly developed animals. The alders spoke of adding stronger breeding regulations and charing a $50 fine for the owners of dogs who have not been properly vaccinated for parvovirus.

Manganiello said he is ​“comfortable” with the contents of a New Britain requirement that breeders obtain a $100 permit from the police department. He added that New Haven should require breeders to microchip litters and include other provisions to address unlicensed breeding.

Inspired by New Britain’s ordinance, the alders suggested adding inspections of premises used for breeding purposes. Specifically, they discussed the need to establish reasons to deny a permit to ensure that breeding occurs in the proper facilities with regular licensing and inspections. Alders suggested that institutionalized checks would side-step possible discrimination, which can stem from an inspection process overly reliant on case-by-case situations. 

“Anything we do, we’re not doing in a vacuum. This is going to be public knowledge,” said Wingate. ​“We’ve got to be totally transparent about what we’re doing in this process.”

The committee considered tackling new leash laws for New Haven as well.

​“We should do some homework on it, and we can add this to it,” Wingate said. ​“This ain’t over.”