SOUTHWICK – The two Belgian Malinois Shepherds that bit a Jack Russell Terrier on October 8 and resulted in the dog passing away, are now out of town.
The Select Board held a continued hearing on Tuesday night and announced they were informed the two dogs are no longer in Southwick. Russ Fox, the Vice-Chairman of the Select Board, suggested that the board vote to have town counsel implement a legal agreement if the dogs happen to return to town or it’s decided that they can return. Along with Fox, Select Board members Doug Moglin and Joe Deedy agreed to the motion that was made by Fox.
Deedy added that the legal agreement would only come into effect if the dogs return to Southwick.
“I don’t think we want to beat this issue,” said Fox. “It’s tragic, we’ve got neighbors that aren’t getting along now, we’ve got one dog that is dead now.”
The Select Board discussed the continued dog hearing on Tuesday night. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
The incident in October has caused problems between neighbors David and Kaitlin Massai, the owners of the two Belgian shepherds, and Alyssa McGuire and Nicholas Cannon, who were owners of the Jack Russell Terrier.
“It’s unfortunate you have neighbors, of course there’s friction now,” said Fox.
When the public comment portion of the meeting occurred, Kaitlin Massai spoke on the incident.
“What has happened was tragic for both families,” said Massai. “My family is no longer safe, my husband as a police officer is no longer safe.”
Massai made claims that McGuire, Cannon, and others have made fake accounts online and have made malicious comments, including comments about her husband, Dave.
“I’m so disappointed, I’ve been raised here, lived here,” said Massai. “I’m extremely disappointed with how this has been handled and we’ve had no support whatsoever.”
Massai added that people have been driving by her house and she can’t trust her kids being outside.
Erika Emmelmann, who knows the Massai’s, acknowledged that she has a German Shepherd K-9 and noted the behavior of her dog when her husband passed away about three years ago. A German Shepherd is known as a similar breed to the Belgian Malinois.
“The dog became the alpha of the household,” said Emmelmann. “I had to call upon my handler of the dog in order to become the handler, dogs are as fickle as they are and I don’t know if we can judge upon them on their first offenses.”
Emmelmann also noted that her dog did bite every person that came to her front door, regardless of who it was, but called her K-9 handler and was able to put a plan together and train the dog. Since the training, the dog has not had any issues.
A continued public hearing regarding the incident previously took place during a Select Board meeting on November 13.
The original complaint was made by McGuire, who resides on Klaus Anderson Rd., alleging a complaint of vicious dogs, nuisance, barking, annoyance, and attack on other dogs. In testimony to the Select Board, McGuire claimed that on October 8 at around 4:30 p.m., she was walking her 8-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Clyde, on a leash in the cornfields near her home. McGuire then saw two dogs from a distance that began to approach her and Clyde. She went on to say that when the dogs came at her and Clyde, she picked her dog up, but Clyde went to the ground and the two dogs were biting Clyde.
McGuire then informed the Select Board that she saw her neighbor, Kaitlin Massai, the owner of the two dogs, run over to help with the situation. After Massai helped McGuire calm the situation, McGuire was able to get Clyde back into the home, but the two dogs were still trying to go after Clyde. McGuire also noted that she did seek medical attention, received a hand x-ray, but required no stitches.
Southwick Police officer Roger Arduini then read a report from Det. Sgt. Tom Krutka, who was the first officer to arrive on scene. Krutka said it appeared Clyde had blood spots and was bitten, but didn’t appeared to be stressed. Although, the dog would need to seek immediate treatment.
After Clyde was transported to an animal hospital he passed away the next day.
