Selectmen Order Dog To Be Euthanized

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story misidentified one of the selectmen who voted against the motion to euthanize the dog. That has been corrected.

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A mix-breed dog has been determined to be so dangerous that the majority of the selectmen think she needs to be put down.

While all five board members believe the dog known as Lacey is dangerous, the board voted 3-2 to have the dog euthanized. Chairman David Feldman and Selectman Chris Mitchell voted against the motion.

According to a report from Animal Control Officer Sue Thibedeau, the February incident saw Lacey, a dog owned by Lisa and Mark Brennan on Meadowview Road, attack another dog from behind and inflict serious injuries. The attack was so severe that Thibedeau recommended euthanizing the dog.

“I do not feel it’s reasonable to risk another incident,” Thibedeau said during Tuesday's hearing at Town Hall.

The incident is the third known for Lacey. She attacked other dogs in 2009 and 2012.

Lisa Brennan said her dog is normally on a muzzle and leash and only goes out with her husband, Mark Brennan. Right before the incident, the dog was off leash because Mark was putting her into his truck. She added that only her husband takes the dog off the property and she keeps Lacey on a leach if she takes her out to the yard.

William Short, the owner of the dog that was attacked, said he had to separate the two dogs and Mark did not appear until shortly after the attack was broken up.

"The dog was praying on us behind," Short said.

The delayed response from Mark, along with the lack of a leash and muzzle, showed a lack of responsibility, according to Thibedeau.

“I’m hesitant, unfortunately, to recommend other options because they only work if someone follows them and this shouldn't have happened if Mr. Brennan was responsible,” Thibedeau said. "It could have been prevented by a leach and that would be a reasonable expected from someone who has a dog-aggressive dog."

Susan Berry, a witness to the incident, said she was in her car with her husband when she saw Lacey come up from behind and attack the other dog.

Short added that Lisa has been very supportive and offered to pay the medical bills.

Board members were hesitant to order the dog to be put down, but the severity of the injuries and the number of dogs and children in the neighborhoods were important factors.

“A lot of us our dog owners, it’s not an easy decision but what I’m looking at is not a dog bite. This dog was ripped apart,” Selectman Jim DeVellis said. “My responsibility I think is to the neighborhood. If the dog is out and another dog comes by, I think it will happen again.”

Selectman Mark Elfman said the last thing he wanted to do was euthanize someone's dog, but voted in favor of the motion.

The Brennans have 10 days to appeal the decision in district court. If an appeal is heard, the process can take months and the town can request that the dog be impounded during the process.

Image: File Photo