Published February 4, 2021
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Following an emotional three-hour hearing, the Select Board determined unanimously Jan. 25 that two pit bulls owned by Edward and Danielle Guide, 18 Maple Rd., are “dangerous dogs” as defined under state statute (MGL Ch. 140, Sect. 157).
Select Board Chairwoman Kate Manupelli stated that under the law there are very specific actions a board both can and cannot take with regard to dangerous dogs. For example, it is no longer allowed for one town to banish dogs to another community, thereby making it that town’s problem. The law sets up parameters to keep both the community safe and the dogs kept under humane conditions, and if that cannot be done the next option is euthanasia.
Everyone who testified at the virtual hearing Jan. 25 took an oath swearing to tell the truth as related to their experiences with the dogs over the years.
While sparing their lives from euthanasia, the board has imposed strict rules as to how both dogs must be constrained or confined when not inside their own home. During the hearing, Danielle Guide testified that she and her husband plan to move to New Hampshire later this year, where they are having a house built. They currently rent the home at 18 Maple Road.
The two 70-lb. dogs were subjected to a 10-day quarantine following the attack on Jazzie, a 90-lb. Golden retriever who was being walked on leash by her owner, Dan Coveney, near 18 Juniper Road, on the morning of November 25, 2020 when the unleashed dogs came after the Golden retriever unprovoked and proceeded to attack her three separate times. Hearing Coveney’s calls for help, Bernie Stansbury and his wife Sharlene Speizer, who reside at 18 Juniper Rd., came to his aid. Both men were bitten on the hand while trying to separate the dogs as Speizer was simultaneously dropping a large rock on the heads of the pitbulls in an effort to free their grip from the neck of the dog.
Speizer told the board that the dogs simply would not listen to three adults and they chased and re-attacked Jazzie when she finally broke free while Speizer and Stansbury were trying to get Jazzie into their home, with the pit bulls in pursuit. They eventually got her into their house and Stansbury shooed them back to their own home on Maple Road.
The veterinarian’s report from Reading Animal Clinic submitted for the record indicates that Jazzie suffered “multiple abrasions and puncture wounds over the neck, ventral neck, right eye, left ear, left shoulder and broken tooth” while noting the owner was bitten on the left hand. Coveney had testified on Jan. 11 that she would have died if she did not have such thick skin and fur.
It was documented in police reports that the pit bulls had escaped a couple of times since the attack, including while under quarantine so Animal Control Officer Jerry Berg issued a muzzle order that was extended through the outcome of the case. After the Jan. 11 meeting, no additional reports of the dogs leaving the property were reported or observed by the ACO.
The dogs were not licensed when the attack occurred and the Guides did not immediately have access to their rabies vaccinations, which were done by the MSPCA. That documentation was filed by them with the town Nov. 29 indicating the three-year vaccination is good through March 2022. According to Town Clerk Barbara Stats, Mr. Guide came to Town Hall after the Jan 25 hearing to register both dogs, as required under the Select Board’s ruling.
The board’s Jan. 25 decision also took into account the 90-minute discussion and testimony, both oral and written, that took place at their prior meeting on the matter Jan. 11. The pit bulls, Jager and Patron, are 6 ½ years old and have been with the Guides since they were puppies.
Their former dog walker, who now lives in South Carolina, testified at the Jan. 25 hearing that she had worked with both dogs for about four years, walking them both on leash at the same time and they obeyed her commands and were not aggressive toward other dogs when under her care. She had not worked with them since relocating about two years ago.
The Guides hired Boston Dog Lawyer Jeremy Cohen to represent them. Cohen pointed out that the behavior of the dogs indicates that while they are aggressive with other dogs they are not aggressive with other humans, arguing the distinction between the two. He cited as an example the fact that even after having large rocks dropped on their heads during the attack on Jazzie the pit bulls did not turn and attack any of the adults, and once Jazzie was safely inside the neighbors’ home, they were shooed home without attacking the adults. The Guides also had several friends testify that they and their children have felt safe around the dogs and Danielle Guide’s own young nieces and nephews visit often without incident.
ACO Berg stated that the pit bulls do not seem to be “people aggressive” and that he has even patted them during his visits.
The board members, however, were not swayed by the distinction in their ruling, noting the large number of people in this neighborhood who testified that they have been felt the entire neighborhood is under attack and they have re-routed their walks, whether with or without a dog, to avoid walking near 18 Maple Road due to their fear of these dogs and their fears for the children and other smaller dogs on the neighborhood.
The Guides may appeal this order within 10 days to Woburn D.C.:
As a result of this finding, the Board voted that these dogs shall be secured at all times as follows:
1. The dogs Jager and Patron shall be confined to the property at 18 Maple Road, except as provided in condition (2); provided that “confined” shall mean securely confined indoors, or when outdoors, either on a three foot leash and muzzle when under the owner’s control or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or dog run area upon the premises of the owner or keeper.
2. Whenever Jager and/or Patron are removed from the premises of the owner or the person keeping the dog, the dogs shall be securely and humanely muzzled and restrained with a chain or other tethering device having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and not exceeding three feet in length.
3. The owner shall provide proof of insurance in an amount not less than $100,000 insuring the owner or keeper against any claim, loss, damage or injury to persons, domestic animals or property resulting from the acts, whether intentional or unintentional, of the dogs, or proof that reasonable efforts were made to obtain such insurance if a policy has not been issued.
In addition, please note that you stated on the record during the hearing that you would immediately obtain valid licenses for both dogs, as mandated by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 140, Section 137 and Chapter 23, Article 1 of the North Reading General Bylaws.
