Kenneth C. Albertelli
Chief of Police
30 Mt Vernon St.
Winchester, MA 01890
For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]
Winchester Police Take Custody of Alleged Aggressor Dog in Fatal Dog-on-Dog Attack
WINCHESTER — Police Chief Kenneth C. Albertelli announces that the Winchester Police Department last evening took custody of an adult Bullmastiff dog that allegedly attacked and killed another resident’s puppy earlier this week.
The dog, named Hercules, was brought out of state by its owner after police began an investigation into a fatal attack on a Cockapoo puppy, but police, working with partner agencies, tracked the dog to New Hampshire.
The animal will be held for a legally-required 10 day quarantine. The Winchester Board of Selectmen has tasked Chief Albertelli with holding a dangerousness hearing to determine if the Bullmastiff presents a danger to the community. Until this process is completed, this dog will remain in the care of the Winchester police department.
Background:
A Winchester Police Officer responded to a Carriage Lane home shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday and spoke to a resident who reported that she was walking her puppy, on leash earlier in the day, when it was suddenly attacked by a large dog, later determined to be a Bullmatiff. The owner of the puppy took the wounded dog to an animal hospital in Woburn, where it died of its injuries. An investigation by Winchester Police and the Winchester Animal Control Officer determined that the lager dog got away from its owner and attacked the much smaller puppy. The owner of the Bullmastiff was notified that he would be legally required to turn over the dog for a mandatory 10-day quarantine period during the investigation, and he has failed to do so.
The case remains under investigation.
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