SALISBURY — A pit bull owner must go before selectmen after Animal Control Officer Harold Congdon brought complaints to the board, and the town may consider overhauling its dog ordinance entirely after two other reports of pit bull problems in town.
Selectman Jerry Klima said Congdon requested the public hearing in writing after he received a number of complaints about a "vicious pit bull" living on Linda Lane.
According to Congdon, the dog is aggressive, goes without a leash and may have attacked other dogs three different times as their owners walked them along the residential street.
Congdon also informed selectmen the owner has not licensed the dog. Salisbury's bylaws require dogs be leashed when outside, and state law requires all dogs be licensed annually with proof of rabies vaccination.
After the complaints and attacks, Congdon ordered the dog into quarantine, Klima said. Congdon believes the dog is a threat to the community, Klima said, and asked selectmen to hold a public hearing to deal with the problem.
Selectman Don Beaulieu said this is not the only instance he's aware of in which unlicensed, unleashed pit bulls are creating problems in Salisbury neighborhoods. Beaulieu said there are two pit bulls on Commonwealth Avenue that have been accused of attacks on other animals on the street.
Beaulieu, an insurance broker, said there are breeds of dogs listed as potentially problematic — such as pit bulls — by the insurance industry. To prevent residents from fearing walking through their own neighborhoods, Beaulieu suggested selectmen consider "tightening up" the town's dog ordinances to provide more stringent rules for those who own dog breeds with aggressive tendencies.
Currently, Salisbury's bylaws only regulate keeping dogs leashed and the removal of their waste.
Haverhill is the only city or town in the region with bylaws strictly targeting pit bulls. That city requires the breed to be leashed and muzzled when not on their owner's property and confined to enclosures at least 20 feet from the street when on the property.
In neighboring Amesbury, bylaws don't target specific breeds, but the town does regulate dogs considered a nuisance for biting, barking, howling or any other manner of disturbing the peace, as well as dogs "running at large."
Town Clerk Wilma McDonald said there are also state animal control laws that might apply to protect the public in cases of vicious dogs with uncooperative owners.
Salisbury selectmen are hoping the affected parties will attend the 7:30 p.m. hearing at the next selectmen's meeting on Nov. 3.
