Select Board awaits report on alleged dog attacks in Deerfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

Staff Writer

Published: 06-19-2022 10:52 AM

DEERFIELD — Following a written complaint about dog attacks on Greenfield Road, the Select Board is waiting for a report from the animal control officer before making a decision to hold a dog hearing.

The board received a written complaint from Ashleigh Young, a resident at 357 Greenfield Road, alleging that her dog has been attacked by her downstairs neighbor’s dog four times since November 2021. In her letter, Young said she declined to call police or animal control after the first three attacks, but after an attack on May 21 left her with scratches on her leg and injuries to her dog’s head, she contacted police.

In her letter, Young said she was planning to send more photos of her dog’s injuries. She said she and her neighbors were fighting with the dog to free hers and it “wasn’t until someone driving down (Routes) 5 and 10 honked their horn and startled their dog that it loosened up enough for us to break free and run inside while their dog chased us.”

“I will attach photos of more of (mine) and my dog’s injuries, which I’m aware could have been worse and, unfortunately, the next time their dog breaks loose they probably will be,” she wrote.

Town Administrator Kayce Warren said the proper protocol will be for the Select Board to forward the complaint to the animal control officer, who will need to write up a report. Once that report is received by the board, it can opt to post a public dog hearing.

“This is one of those fairly strict types of hearings,” Warren said, “where you actually take testimony in a certain manner and make a decision.”

Select Board Chairman Trevor McDaniel said he read the complaint and is awaiting the official report from the animal control officer before making any decision.

“I would love to see the report form and then we can start the process moving forward,” he said. Fellow Selectboard member Carolyn Shores Ness added she thinks a hearing is “warranted” after seeing the injuries to both Young and her dog.

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