Pit Bull Banished from Chelmsford

Selectmen last night decided to banish an 85lb Pit Bull, Champ, last night after Dog Officer Erik Merrill said it got loose and killed a 12-year-old Golden Retreiver named Zoe.

Champ's owner Ashley Campbell, of Allston, said she was visiting her parents in Chelmsford when her dog - who wasn't on a leash - attacked Zoe while she was going for a walk around the block.

Campbell told officials she wasn't aware there was a leash law in Chelmsford, even while on the owners' property.

Merrill said Zoe died of 17 bite wounds from Champ.

"There are a lot of stereotypes about (Pit Bulls), I don’t want to get into that. I'm not looking at it as a Pit Bull, we’re looking it as case by case basis as a dog being that aggressive to another dog is a public safety issue." 

Merrill called it a "serious situation."

Campbell said the dog lives at her apartment in Allston, so the dog is already out of town. She asked selectmen if there were any way Champ could visit her parents on holidays.

"He is a sweet dog, I've had him since he was a puppy," said Campbell, who didn't deny that the incident happened but said she's never seen any vicious qualities in Champ otherwise.

"I can't tell you why it happened, I'm very very sorry. I don’t know how it happened but he was in our yard ... and we are responsible ... this hasn’t happened before," she said.

Selectmen said they would issue a restraining order for the dog, not giving Champ any exceptions on holidays. Selectman Pat Wojtas said perhaps in a few years the Board of Selectmen could reconsider the decision.

"It's not smart to allow the dog back into Chelmsford for any reason," said Selectman Matt Hanson.