ROWLEY — When Michael Passanisi left Town Hall on the evening of March 17, he thought moving to Rowley three months prior was the worst mistake he'd ever made. Selectmen had just ordered his dog euthanized over the death of a neighbor's pet goat, and he said he felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
Although still embroiled in a fight to appeal his dog's death sentence in Newburyport District Court, he now does so with the backing of nearly 100 supporters who believe the selectmen's decision was unjust and who've pledged to fight for his cause.
"The support that I'm getting is unbelievable," said Passanisi. "I have people stopping by the house leaving their business cards — people from all over."
Passanisi's girlfriend was watching his 6-year-old Labrador Niko in February when the dog wandered off their property and was found in the nearby yard of Richard and Melissa Lebel. He was inside a pen housing the Lebels' three pet goats; one of them was dead from a bite to the neck.
The town's animal control officer later discovered that the other two goats had similar neck wounds. It was assumed that Niko was the perpetrator, but there was reportedly no blood on the dog.
Passanisi says a dozen Rowley residents have stopped by to offer their support, and letters have been pouring in from Newbury, Byfield and even Rockport. One came with nothing more than a check enclosed for $50, with a note that read, "I wish it could be more, but I'm on a fixed income. Get the best darn lawyer in the state."
Passanisi says he gets emotional every time he reads letters like that.
"It's overwhelming," says Passanisi. "I think there's some kind of a bond here. There's a lot of people out there that would do what I'm doing — fight to the end for their dog."
Rowley native Marcia Haley is one such person. Haley's collected more than 75 signatures from residents on a petition to reverse Niko's death sentence, a paper that Passanisi plans to use in the appeal, which is scheduled for April 26.
After Passanisi hired lawyers from Salem, Jeremy Cohen and Jack Foley, more letters of support started rolling in.
"There are some people shaking their heads wondering, is this guy crazy getting a lawyer for his dog?" said Passanisi. "But there's people just hoping and praying that I would get a lawyer."
Passanisi says this tragedy has changed his attitude with regard to letting his three dogs run. Where he once viewed their running free as a fundamental need, he now says they'll never be allowed off leash again. When he's not working on Niko's case, Passanisi is busy building a chainlink fence to ensure if one dog gets out the back door, it will get no further than the fence.
Despite a tough start in Rowley, he's grateful for the many supporters he's met, and feeling better about his chance at happiness here. He even sees a little divine providence at work.
"I don't believe any of this is by accident," he says. "I think it's meant to be this way. I believe there's a power greater than us out there, and that all the help I'm getting is a result of that."
Selectmen met in executive session last Monday to discuss the legal ramifications of the case now that attorneys have gotten involved. Passanisi's attorney has expressed interest in settling the matter locally if selectmen are willing to reconsider their euthanization ruling.
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