By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – The ongoing two-year saga of a dog adjudged a nuisance in 2013 was once again before the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen Aug. 11.
The dog “Pesky” has been reported to have continually attacked other neighborhood dogs and roamed neighbors’ property. The dog, owned by Janeen Demers of 31 Westmont Road, has been the subject of multiple meetings of the board.
In September 2013, some progress appeared to have been made, when Animal Control Officer Leona M. Pease stated that an enforcement order had been partially satisfied through a combination of dog-control devices, including locking gates, fencing and fence footings, locked doors in the house, leashes, runs, crates, muzzles when the dogs are outside the property, and microchips to register ownership. She also noted, however, that despite the steps taken, the dogs could not yet be considered secured and not a problem for the neighborhood. However, the board concluded that since partial compliance had been made, no further actions were necessary as long as progress continued.
At the Aug. 11 meeting, it was reported that Pesky had again recently left the Demers property, unmuzzled, and got into a fight with another neighborhood dog. Town Manager Daniel Morgado then noted that, in light of the existing enforcement order and several years of incidents with the dog, this latest incident was actionable by the town.
Chair Moira Miller stated that she was “tired of having to be the adult in this situation when the owners have continued to act irresponsibly” and unhappy that the board was again being called upon to perhaps order the dog euthanized. She also noted that the enforcement order has previously been violated.
Pease, when asked if she had inspected the Demers’ dog fence for compliance, replied that she did not believe it obeyed the enforcement order by being “dig-under proof,” although it had not been established whether this had contributed to the latest enforcement violation.
She acknowledged that after this latest incident, the town was free to go to district court for an enforcement resolution, with the state law providing for a fine and/or imprisonment for the owner. Miller, Morgado and Selectman John Lebeaux then recommended the town take Demers to court. Selectman James Kane recommended that Pease first check for total order non-compliance, and that if that was indeed the case, take Pesky’s owner to court. The board then voted unanimously to take this action.
