After 5 dog attacks in simply a week and a half, the Department of Natural Resources is asking dog owners to keep their animals under control and correctly included.
“We have thousands of dogs in this town and unfortunately, people need to start … making sure their dogs are a little more secured and take the extra steps for their safety and everyone around them,” said Director Garry Buckminster.
Buckminster said dog owners have major liability when their dog attacks another dog, consisting of medical expenses, public fines and possible dangerous dog hearings prior to the Select Board.
A recent canine victim needed to go in for emergency situation surgical treatment after being assaulted by a bigger dog. Other attacks left dogs with leak injuries and lacerations.
One of the dogs accountable for a recent attack secured free simply from an opened storm door, he said.
“Neighboring towns don’t have incidents like this as much as we do, and people need to start understanding they need to be responsible for their pets,” Buckminster said.
Buckminster partly associates the recent increase in attacks to the warmer weather condition, as more dogs and their owners are attempting to get outdoors.
Loose animals can be reported to the Department of Natural Resources’ animal control department at (508) 291-3100 ext. 3180 or [email protected].
