I live on Loveland Street in Middletown - there are two "roaming" pits for over three years now. I have been bitten twice now and my little dog got 14 stitches. My phone calls were weekly to the animal control and the police until they informed me there was no leash law in CT & to stop calling. There are days I have to call out of work because I can not safely get to my car and the police will not help me. I know who both the owners are and the cops do nothing.

BALONEY, I do not believe that the Middeltown ACO said there ar not leash laws in CT.
Why did your little dog have stitches?
Are you a chroic police department caller?

Dear Sammi, make a phone call to an ACO and educate yourself before you attack. The law says the owner simply has to have the dog under their control - no leash is required. I am still shocked about it. My dog had stitches from the pitbull attack that occured in my back yard, as all the attacks did.
And I have never called the police department unless my life or my childs was in danger, for example being trapped in our car by a pitbull for two hours as it pulled the bumper off the car trying to get in. I could not back out without hitting the dog which I was trying to avoid. In that case, I felt some assistance was needed. So I do not call cronicly but if someones bleeding or an auto is being torn apart; then yes I feel it's o.k. to call. Maybe I should call you instead and you can handle the matter in a manner you see fit.

I don't care how well a dog is trained they still need to be on a leash, dogs like people have little minds of their own and do funny things when you least expect it.

Who would waste their time calling the police anyway? They don't seem to care about people's safety anymore, sadly enough, for the most part.
I'm sure there's some good cops out there, but the bad cops seem to be outnumbering the good ones!
Be careful too, if you go to the Glastonbury dog park, for there's dog owners who walk up to the dog park, with their dogs OFF a leash! And if you tell them it's not legal to do so, they'll start interrogating you, asking WHO you are!
I think we need to start writing the governor of the state, or Sen. Liebermann, about this issue!
Let's face facts, dogs can be aggressive, even small dogs. But when you got a large dog, who turns aggressive, a dog or even a human can easily be killed off quickly!
There's a true story about a young female toddler only 20 months old, who was attacked & killed in her own apartment by two of her relatives pitbulls!
So you tell me, just how SAFE it is, to let pitbulls run loose in ANY yard, with no fence, or being on any chain or leash at all??? It's NOT safe!
And there's many cities who have literally banned pitbulls, and I think they need to do the same with the state of Connecticut.
And Sammi, you think that anyone who wants to stay safe or alive, is a "problem" then you need to start reading the U.S. Constitution! This is America, not a Communist country, we still have civil rights as Americans, even if you don't agree with us!

We have volunteered at an animal shelter and NOPE, never been bitten by a Golden Retriever, a Beagle, or a Labrador. Those dogs are bred to be social creatures, for the most part.
However, I've been bitten by German Shepherds, Chows, Dobermans, and it was not a pleasant experience.
you look up which dogs have the worst bite, and you'll see it's German Shepherds, Chows, Rottweilers & Pitbulls.
Which makes sense since they are used for guard dogs, Rottweilers have the most powerful bite, as do pitbulls. They use Pitbulls to hunt wild boars too, so you tell me how "unpowerful" a bite from a Pitbull would be, if he could take down an extremely powerful Wild Boar please Sammi?

And even if your dog is not any of these breeds, but for some reason, they become aggressive, it's your responsiblity to see that they do NOT leave your yard, nor attack another dog, or person, even if they are just walking down the street on a public sidewalk.

Now someone tell me just WHY the police refuse to help out the public since it's their legal obligation to help safeguard the public, not put them at risk, by refusing to enforce a State Law, for heaven's sakes!
Someone pray about this issue please! I'm tired of reading & hearing about innocent dogs & people getting attacked by vicious dogs in this state! That's just cruel!

All dogs must be on a leash six foot or shorter when out in CT, They are not allowed to be off leash unless in fenced in or a designated area such as dog park.

ProDeath is kinda correct on this one.
http://www.ecode360.com/MI1935

Article 3 sec 214-10A:
Dogs and other pets are permitted in City parks and recreational areas on leash only and under control of their owners or keepers. Dogs and other pets are prohibited on the City beaches and at the City pools.

Then also in 214-41D:
Any dog or pet taken onto a multi-use trail shall be on a leash which shall be no longer than six feet. Dog owners are required to remove the animal waste.

However, that appears to be the only two references to any leash law in Middletown (city wise at least). I'm certainly not a lawyer and there may be other state regulations, but one could argue that as long as you were not in a city park or on city owned open land it's perfectly legal.

Don't think I agree with that though. I think all dogs should be on leashes and I am an owner. I don't trust any dog I do not know and don't expect anyone to trust that mine are either. They may and are but how do you know if you are not the owner?

Also just found this too:

http://www.jud.state.ct.us/LawLib/law/dogs.htm
Roaming Dogs

The general statutes do not mandate that dogs be on leashes at all times. But (1) a dog's owner or keeper must not allow it to roam on another person's land or on a public highway, including sidewalks, if it is not under his control and (2) local governments may create leash ordinances. Violating the state roaming law is an infraction punishable

by a fine of $92 (CGS § 22-364). Additionally, the Environmental Protection Department requires that owners keep their dogs leashed in state parks.

So to my disbelief there really isn't a leash law except when it comes to state parks, city parks, and city owned open land in Middletown. See what can happen if you just do a quick google search using the correct words to search with? Isn't the internet great? Man I wish it was around when I was a little kid.

Dogs are dogs... leash the owners

I would never call out of work because of vicious dogs. I would buy Mace, stun gun or regular pistol and use it if approached! Of course Be sure to get a permit first, and a safety course!!

Connecticut state law (22-364(a)) requires that a dog be under the owner's control. Dogs are not required to be leashed, fenced or otherwise restrained if they are well behaved dogs with their owners or in their own yard. Pitbulls, German Shepards and Chows under their owner's control are no more a threat than any other dog. Dogs, regardless of breed, out of their owner's control and causing problems will be dealt with by the animal control officer when complained about. Simple.

The City of Middletown will officially launch SeeClickFix in October 2016. As we ramp up with this partnership, the City is offering a limited number of reportable issue types and we ask that residents submit only the issues listed through SeeClickFix. Other issues not listed through SeeClickFix can be reported by calling the appropriate City Department. If the issue you originally reported has not yet been resolved and is listed through the selectable Issues, please consider submitting a new report through the SeeClickFix system and we’ll be happy to address your concern at that time. Thanks and the City is excited about this new partnership to continue improving Middletown.