<p>An Edgartown woman has decided to euthanize her dog after he was involved in a fight with another dog earlier this month.</p> <p>The Edgartown selectmen opened a vicious or nuisance dog hearing Monday about a fight involving Ann Wales’s dog, Tommy, a pit bull/hound cross and Damon Burke’s dog, Ramune, an American Staffordshire terrier.</p> <p>On July 6 assistant animal control officer Jennifer Morgan said a call about a dog fight came through the communications center. A second call came that the situation was under control, she said, but she responded anyway.</p>
An Edgartown woman has decided to euthanize her dog after he was involved in a fight with another dog earlier this month.
The Edgartown selectmen opened a vicious or nuisance dog hearing Monday about a fight involving Ann Wales’s dog, Tommy, a pit bull/hound cross and Damon Burke’s dog, Ramune, an American Staffordshire terrier.
On July 6 assistant animal control officer Jennifer Morgan said a call about a dog fight came through the communications center. A second call came that the situation was under control, she said, but she responded anyway.
“The dogs were pretty badly beaten up and clearly needed vet care,” Ms. Morgan said. She said both dogs were taken to the veterinarian, and then placed into mandatory 10 day quarantine: Ms. Wales’s dog went home, she said, and Mr. Burke’s dog was placed in quarantine at the town pound.
Animal control officer Barbara Prada said the dogs were also involved in an earlier fight when Ms. Wales was taking them for a walk.
Ms. Wales said the public hearing wasn’t necessary because she had decided to euthanize Tommy on Tuesday.
Mr. Burke asked for a continuance on the hearing so he could gather appropriate information. Last week the selectmen were told that Mr. Burke’s dog was involved in an incident in Oak Bluffs.
Stephanie Burke, Ms. Wales’s sister and Mr. Burke’s mother, told selectmen that she felt that Ms. Morgan wanted Ramune destroyed and that there have been inconsistencies in reports. She said the incident happened inside the house with family-owned dogs and that no people were bitten.
The selectmen agreed to continue the hearing until next week, and ordered Mr. Burke to keep the dog on a leash and muzzled when on walks and to keep the dog in a crate if nobody is home. Selectmen also said the dog should be under Mr. Burke’s care after he is released from quarantine but before the hearing.
Comments
Yeah, killing the dog is the
Greg Oak BluffsYeah, killing the dog is the answer. Who cares about a dog's life.
Sorry Greg, it's not about
Tisbury Girl TisburySorry Greg, it's not about feelings. It's about making a sound rational decision. Dogs that exhibit aggression (or fear) based behaviors can be dangerous to people as well, especially towards children due to their size. It does however sound like Mr. Burke's dog may be the aggressor but there is not enough info in this article.
Truth be known,in the Oak
Just The Facts Ma'amTruth be known,in the Oak Bluffs incident last year, Mr. Burke's dog basically ripped off the leg of another dog that was out walking with it's owner. The owner scooped up his dog, and while being held for protection, had it's leg nearly torn off by Mr. Burke's dog. A complete amputation was preformed to save the dog's life. That is all documented not only in Oak Bluffs, but by the courts.
It is sad that Mr Burke's aunt is going to forfeit her dog to protect her nephews vicious, and dangerous dog. Very hard to understand how some decisions are made.
Ms. Morgan is a well respected, well trained, certified animal control officer and graduate of the Massachusetts Animal Control Academy. She has extensive training in other areas of animal care as well and enjoys an excellent reputation in her field, both on and off Island.
The animal care profession is not always all warm and fuzzy. No one "wants" and animal destroyed. However, sometimes circumstances are such that the choice must be made for the safety and well being of both other animals and people.
And Tisbury Girl is right, there is not enough info in this report.
In my opinion,it should have been more throughly reported.
There are no bad dogs, just
Islander47There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.
What is wrong with you people
Carol Lampson Once Chilmark and Edgartown, now CaliforniaWhat is wrong with you people? You support killing a dog after a dog fight? Tisbury Girl, your ignorance is exceeded only by your coldness - and you are breathtakingly ignorant. Dogs that exhibit aggression, or fear, against other dogs almost NEVER exhibit that behavior against humans. Unless, you know, they're saving their owners' lives from burglars or would-be murderers. Which dogs do on a regular basis, which is one of the many reasons they have been man's best friends since the last ice age.
Having been bitten by a "non
jvineyard EdgartownHaving been bitten by a "non-aggressive" dog, the word NEVER is a bunch of bologna. Walking in my neighborhood, on the opposite side of the street to a woman with a dog (Lab mix) on a leash. We exchanged "hellos" and the dog proceeded to pull the owner across the street to charge at me and bit my right arm so hard I had a hole through my forearm. The owner had the nerve to tell me the dog did not bite me as the blood rolled down my arm. 3 days of IV antibiotics later my arm had swelled like a balloon. As a dog owner and lover, it has made me afraid to go near anyone else's dog unless I know it very well. It is a shame.
Ms. Lampson, I could ask the
Doc EdgertownMs. Lampson, I could ask the same of you. I find it appalling that you would take exception to a dog owner taking responsibility for the actions of their dog. I do not dispute your claim that dogs that attack other dogs are not more likely to attack humans, nor do I endorse it as I have no data to support either. Do you? Ms. Wales is likely concerned that this behavior could continue and that having a dog that has shown a propensity to attack other dogs is just not worth the potential risk to other dogs as well as the legal exposure she faces. We anthropomorphize dogs, because they are loyal and accept and provide affection. In the end, they are our property, as much as we love them, and when they pose a risk to other dogs or humans they need to be put down. What would be your position, assuming you are wrong, if this dog next attacked a small child? Would it be enough for you to have been wrong, or would it have been more prudent to prevent the risk? Before you respond that I hate dogs, you should know that I have had dogs my entire life and currently have two, well mannered, Goldens that I love very much. Given the circumstances of this story, I would do the same as Ms. Wales. It’s easy to be lofty in your conjecture, but reality is a bit harsher.
Then don't allow your dog to
Greg Oak BluffsThen don't allow your dog to be in the position to do harm. Muzzles work just fine. Some countries require dogs to wear muzzles in public. Killing an animal because it "does not act right" is a selfish, lazy excuse.
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