Boston Council hears animal control staffing shortfalls at leash law hearing
Boston Council hears animal control is stretched thin as leash law complaints mount. Chaired by City Councilor Edward M.
City Council 2026-07-30 1000 · Meeting of July 30, 2026
Boston Council hears animal control is stretched thin as leash law complaints mount. Chaired by City Councilor Edward M. Flynn with co-sponsor Erin J.
Murphy, the Committee on City Services heard Director of Animal Care and Control Alexis Trazinski report six field officers and one supervisor, with one vacancy, fielded more than 9,000 calls and issued 2,774 citations in 2025, while cruelty and neglect cases climbed from 194 in 2021 to 544. MSPCA Vice President Mike Kiley warned the division is "stretched very thin" and proposed a citywide animal advisory committee modeled on one he helped build in Lowell. A Brookline resident, Wendy, described her dog Malteser losing both eyes in a June 28 attack by an unleashed neighbor's dog, costing $6,000 in emergency care, saying "dogs are living, breathing family members." Deputy Commissioner Breeze Outlaw of Parks and Recreation, a month into her role, said she would follow up with data on park ranger patrols.
No formal vote was taken on the docket.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,788 words
Source: the City Council 2026-07-30 1000 meeting of July 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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