Framingham School Official Battles Tenant As Dogs Overrun Home

FRAMINGHAM, MA — District 9 School Committee member William LaBarge's home has gone to the dogs.

LaBarge appeared at Tuesday's Board of Health meeting in an effort to do something about the eight dogs — puppies and adults — his tenant keeps in the basement of their East Street home. A Framingham ordinance requires dog owners to get a permit for four or more canines.

"I want the dogs G-O-N-E, gone!" he said during the meeting, which at one point featured a expletive-laden outburst by the tenant, Ken Colley, as dogs barked in the background.

Colley moved into LaBarge's East Street home — owned by LaBarge's husband, Jerry Ferrazza — from Virginia about a decade ago along with three dogs. At first, LaBarge was OK with the small pack, saying he and Ferrazza had always wanted dogs around.

But the pack grew over the years. Colley adopted Shoeshine after the dog was nearly killed by a coal truck in Kentucky, he explained. He also had Bear and Duke, a Great Pyrenees and English pointer, respectively. Somewhere along the way he also added Fiona and Charlotte, who went on to have six and four puppies — although only three of Fiona's survived birth.

"As far as the dogs go, yes they have proliferated," Colley admitted during Tuesday's meeting. Fiona was by his side growling after suffering a recent injury, he said.

Colley spent a long time describing his different dogs and their relationships. He referenced other dogs who lived with him over the years, including Isis, Phoenix and one whose name is pronounced "dooger."

Recently, he and LaBarge got into a dispute about two puppies, who Colley claimed had been stolen and given away.

"I'm not into animal husbandry, so I want to keep this focused," Board of Health Vice Chair David Moore interjected at one point.

Board of Health inspector Adam DiPersio said he took the case in December, advising Colley how to get a permit to keep the dogs. When Colley returned the application in April, it was incomplete, and so the Board of Health denied it. Colley said he couldn't afford a requirement to send certified letters to nearby property owners.

The meeting took the tone of a rowdy dog park when Framingham Animal Control Officer Kathy MacKenzie entered. She said she's been known Colley and his pack since about 2014, and has watched the number of dogs increase "exponentially" over the years. She also said there may be some inbreeding going on.

Colley said he hated MacKenzie, and threated the Board of Health and LaBarge with legal action if they didn't stop and listen to his side of the story. He began swearing, and wished MacKenzie would "go to hell."

"F--- all of you!" he said before logging off the Zoom call.

The Board of Health then voted to deny Colley's permit for the dogs, a move MacKenzie said will allow the city to begin levying penalties. LaBarge, although clearly frustrated during the meeting, said he was worried about Colley. He didn't want to pursue an eviction because he doubts Colley could find a new home, let alone one that would accommodate his dogs.

"It does adversely affect my mental health, big time," he said.