WARREN — City animal control officer Jason Cooke told city council Wednesday that the city’s shelter handled 749 dogs from Warren in 2025.

Cooke, addressing council during the public speaking portion of the meeting, provided statistics showing the severity of the issue. Cook said of the 937 dogs taken in from across Trumbull County, the majority of them, 636, came after he became the animal control officer for the city in mid-February.

“We’re continuing to provide dog food to residents in need. We’re continuing to expand our shelter and just work with the public to continue to, hopefully, at some point, get a better handle on this problem,” Cooke said.

Cooke also touched on the shelter’s assistance with cats, though he said those figures are lower and would be shared at the next council meeting.

“We do have numbers for cats that I’ll provide at the next council meeting, because we do assist with cats as well, but not nearly as many as dogs,” he said.

Warren Council President John Brown noted the numbers that Cooke cited account for about two dogs a day. He asked if things had slowed, but Cooke told council members the problem is still persistent.

The discussion among council members then turned to the city’s dog enforcement contract, which is now held by Cooke on a one-year basis. Councilman Todd Johnson, I-1st Ward, suggested a formal review in the spring during a committee meeting.

However, Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert explained the contract’s temporary nature and the requirement to rebid it.

“I have to put this back out to bid for city employees. I have done that. It is going to be up for 10 days. I do believe two city employees have shown interest in it. They are members of the bargaining unit. So obviously, if they can do the job, we are under a collective bargaining agreement. If they were to choose to take the job, we would have to go with the city employees.”

Johnson said he appreciated the update but said there needs to be a timely dialogue given the intake numbers.

Cooke, who also is the founder and executive director of The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project in Warren, voiced strong concerns if the contract shifts.

“My concern, director (Colbert), is, where are you going to put all these dogs? We’re out there killing ourselves every day to help the city, to help this dog problem,” he said.

The discussion culminated in a decision to refer the matter to the health and welfare committee for deeper review.

Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D at-Large, and chair of the committee, scheduled a meeting to address the dog warden issues alongside other topics during a health and wellness committee meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 29.