Dangerous Dog Hearing Delayed; Animal Temporarily Declared Nuisance

MANSFIELD, MA — A dangerous dog hearing scheduled for Wednesday night’s selectmen meeting will have to wait another day.

Due to a notification error, the board was unable to hold the hearing and was forced to reschedule to Sept. 6. While unable to make a determination about the dog, the board issued a temporary order, voting to declare the dog a nuisance and requiring the animal to be on a leach held by an adult if it is outside their home.

The vote came in response to a May complaint involving a Staffordshire bull terrier. According to a report, a child was being chased by the dog when he fell and felt a pinch. The child had a red mark and said he was bitten, but police officials are not sure if that’s the case.

The motion was made in part from a report from Animal Control Officer Jeff Collins, who determined that the dog was a nuisance and not dangerous. Selectman Jess Aptowitz pushed for the motion as a temporary measure until the hearing.

“I wouldn’t want to walk by that dog. I’m not saying the dog should be permanently dealt with, it should be at least leashed and muzzled,” he said.

Collins said he is getting conflicting reports about the dog and has not seen it outside when he has driven in the neighborhood.

The alleged incident is the second documented for the dog.

Image: File Photo