GRANBY — Residents voted down the proposed animal control bylaw at the special Town Meeting on Oct. 21, calling the legislation “unduly restrictive” for a farming community.

“It seems very atypical for a farming community to have a leash law,” resident Tim Abbott said.

The proposed bylaw, which was to replace the current canine control bylaw, was the only article of the six warrant items that did not pass.

The 76 voters in attendance at East Meadow School approved the remaining five articles, including a new tax work-off program for veterans and people over 60 years and an additional $115,000 for both the fire and ambulance departments to sustain service through the rest of the fiscal year.

Many residents were confused by the definitions in the animal control bylaw, such as the difference between a “domestic animal” and “personally-owned animal,” which made it unclear which regulation applied to which animal.

“We’re not saying that you have to necessarily pick up your horse manure on town property,” said Select Board Chair Crystal Dufrense. “We’re asking that you be cognizant of the fields that the kids play on at Dufresne Park, that you also are cognizant of (other) people’s property, not walking your horse or riding your horse on their property and letting them defecate everywhere.”

Other residents, especially parents, were in favor of a stronger animal control bylaw. Kevin Moforte, a father of three young children, said his kids are regularly startled by unleashed dogs at Dufrense Park. He recounted a time two weeks ago where a large dog rushed at his child.

“Now, the dog was being playful,” he said,”But I don’t know if the dog is being playful, and I don’t want to have to always wait till it’s too late to find out if the dog is going to be aggressive or not.”

Town Meeting members sympathized with Moforte and expressed agreement that dogs should be leashed in public spaces, but took issue with other aspects of the bylaw.