Massachusetts: Pit bull mix deemed dangerous in Orleans

MASSACHUSETTS -- A dangerous hearing for a dog on Cheney Road has resulted in limits on the animal’s freedom of movement.

 The pit bull and Labrador mix, owned by Jim Boardman and his son Graham, had escaped from his yard a few times and bitten another dog, but it was his behavior on July 4 that concerned selectmen most.

On that day when animal control officer Duane Boucher responded to a complaint of a dog jumping a fence he found the pit bull mix fighting with the neighbor’s dog. When the neighbor, Ronald Brunner, brought his dog inside, Bouchard went to get Brunner’s two grandsons who were also in the yard.

According to the police report, the pit bull first bared his teeth at Bouchard and later lunged at him and jumped up on him, prompting him to draw his weapon.

Lt. Kevin Higgins, who was providing evidence for the town during the dog hearing, said it took Graham Boardman more than five minutes to get the dog under control.

Jim Boardman said the dog was exuberant and not dangerous, but they had taken steps to keep him in the yard. Along with cutting down the shrubs that the dog climbed up on to get over the fence, the animal is always on a leash, Boardman said.

“He is not really a danger to the neighborhood,” he said.

But Selectman David Dunford said it was telling that an officer experienced with animal rescue calls was prompted to draw his weapon. Board members were also convinced by Higgins’ statement that it could have been a near-miss with the two young children in the yard.

Selectmen handed down several restrictions laid out in state law, including having the dog supervised at all times when he was in the fenced in yard (and that the dog run have a floor), that the dog be leashed when off the property, that the shrubbery be removed and that the Boardmans get a $100,000 insurance policy.

In his motion, Selectman John Hodgson acknowledged the owner was already doing what the board was mandating, but emphasized that if there was another incident he would not be nearly as lenient.

(Wicked Local- Orleans - Aug 20 2013)