Selectmen’s Meeting Goes to The Dogs

The Board of Selectmen made sure these dogs would have their day. The Selectmen held a dog hearing last night to sniff out the trouble being caused by Penny Loomos' two golden retrievers.

have fielded numerous complaints from neighbors about the aggressiveness of Loomos' two dogs, "Seamus" and "Molly," according to Wellesley Executive Director Hans Larsen, who also serves as the town's dog officer.

Seamus, the more aggressive of the two, at one point reportedly attacked a puppy being walked by a neighbor.

Further complains from neighbors included excessive barking, intimidation by the dogs, and their inability to be contained within Loomos' property by an electric fence, according to Larsen.

"These dogs have shown territorial aggression," Larsen said.  "They've allegedly terrorized neighbors."

Larsen recommended that the dogs be supervised at all times to prevent them from barking or getting loose, that they no longer be in Loomos' front yard because the invisible fence does not keep them in, and that Seamus be walked in a halter-style collar to prevent him from acting aggressively toward other dogs.

Loomos, of 16 Salem Road, must comply with the recommendations, which were originally issued by Wellesley Animal Control officer Sue Webb at a Dec. 2 hearing, or the dogs are subject to be removed from the town – Seamus is at risk of being "destroyed" if he continues to act aggressively toward other dogs or people, according to Larsen.

Loomos, seeming somewhat apologetic, said she has thus far complied with all of the recommendations. She told the Selectmen she had taken her dogs to see a behaviorist in Groton to comply with part of Webb's initial ruling, and has reinforced the invisible fence with a chain-link fence in the backyard.

"Seamus, don't ask me why, one day decided to go through that invisible fence," she said.

Loomos said she has worked with a professional certified dog trainer since she got the dogs, who are both 2 years old. She said she couldn't guarantee the dogs would not bark if a deer or coyote were to pass through her property. She also said she has not let her dogs out before 7 a.m. and that she brings them in by 9 p.m. every night though no official curfew is being imposed. 

Katherine "Gig" Babson, chair of the Board of Selectmen, informed Loomos that ultimately she is responsible for keeping her dogs quiet.

"The responsibility is placed on you to monitor your dogs," Babson said. "There is responsibility placed on you about where they're going to be in the yard and when you walk them what you need to do with them."

Loomos, exasperated, said she would continue to comply and has no issue with the recommendations.

"Only I could end up with a golden retriever that was aggressive," she said.