Saturday, July 18, 2015

Yellow Labrador that mauled elderly neighbor allowed to return home

MASSACHUSETTS -- A 92-year-old woman mauled by her neighbor's dog now has to live in fear because the dog is back home, which is just yards from her front door. The town is now involved.

Just try stopping Mary Paquette. She is 92 years old and has seen it all.  At least, she thought she had.

Last month, Mary was mauled by a neighborhood dog. Mary's injuries were horrible; her arm and leg were ripped open, and she required multiple stitches.

 
The dog also attacked Mary's face.

"I don't know how he got up on my lip," she told FOX25's Robert Goulston.

But the town recently voted to allow the dog to go back to her neighbor's house, with some conditions. The dog that attacked Mary lives right across the street. 

FOX25 talked to the owner off camera, who says they feel horrible about what happened, but are thankful the town's board of selectman voted to allow the yellow lab named Bella to stay in the home.


 
Mary's son is not happy, pointing out that even the animal control officer recommended the dog be euthanized. 

"I think that for the protecting of the citizens that the dog should have been removed especially with three young children at home where anyone of them could open the door. If the dog isn't restrained in the house, it could be out again," Arthur Paquette said.


As part of the town's decision, Bella has to be confined all of the time and when being walked outside - she has to wear a muzzle.

The town administrator says the board voted three to two that Bella was not a continued threat, because this was the first incident and she could be trained.

"It's within the parameters of the law and we are confident that was the right choice based on the information from that evening," Kevin Mizikar said.


Mary told FOX25 she doesn't feel all that safe outside her own home.

"Not really, not right now," she said. "I have a cane in there and I usually keep my cane with me."

The town says they are going to be aggressively monitoring the dog and making sure the owner is meeting all of the conditions ordered by the town.

(MyFoxBoston - July 16, 2015)

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