WEST NEWBURY — Owners of a 9-month-old American Bulldog named Striker must post a $2,000 bond if they want to bail the family pet out of the pound.
Selectmen imposed the bond on Louisa Periera, 21 Montclair Road, at a formal dog hearing with Animal Control Officer Madelyn Cirinna on Monday.
Cirinna said she received complaints of the dog running loose in the neighborhood and barking at a German shepherd owned by the Perieras neighbor, Helen Walsh, 23 Montclair Road.
At a hearing in March, selectmen had ordered the owners to keep Striker leashed at all times and to put up a fence to contain the dog when outside, after Walsh reported several incidences of the dog running loose on her property and behaving aggressively toward her and her horse.
Cirinna said when she responded to the most recent complaint, she was able to use food to capture the dog. Since it appeared no one was home at the Periera house, she took the dog to the pound, where it has remained. The Perieras' failure to comply with the selectmen's original order and a state law prohibiting the chasing of livestock were justifications for holding the dog, she said.
Periera said the dog became loose when her 5-year-old son, who was left in the care of a new baby sitter, left the door open unintentionally. Repeated calls to the animal control officer to determine the whereabouts of their dog went unanswered, she said. Cirinna said she was away for the weekend.
The dog owner, who said she intends to appeal the selectmen's decision, said she and her husband were very frustrated with the animal control officer's actions, which they feel display favoritism toward the Walshes. The Walshes' dog is frequently on their yard and tearing into their trash, yet until recently they have not filed a complaint, Periera said. However, when they complained to Cirinna about the Walshes dog on April 28, Cirinna did nothing, they claim.
"She told us their dog is not a nuisance, yours is," Periera told selectmen, "I don't feel Madelyn is following protocol. She does play a lot of favoritism. The way she is handling the matter is very one-sided."
Attempts to construct a fence per selectmen's order have met with resistance by Walsh, who complained that it was being constructed on her land, a claim that necessitated the hiring of a land surveyor to resolve, Periera said. Cirinna noted that the dog owners have a fenced in tennis court and a dog kennel on their property, either of which could be used to prevent Striker from running loose.
At the hearing in March, evidence was presented that indicated the dog was aggressive to the Perieras' children, Selectman Dick Cushing said. The dog had mounted the family's 5-year-old son, Walsh said.
"He's been raised with three children in my home," responded Periera, "I would not have a dog who was in any which way aggressive with my children."
But selectmen decided the potential risk posed by the animal and the need to make the owners understand the seriousness of the matter warranted setting a high bond amount.
"The dog owners have not lived up to their part," Selectman John McGrath concluded.
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