Animal Advisory Committee
Minutes: Special Meeting on Incident #12-20944-0F
January 24, 2013
Attending: Martin Haspel, Kerry A. Reid, Roger Dumas, ACO Diana
Back, .Joanne Baldauf
Chair Haspel called the meeting to order at 7:25 pm in the conference room at the Eastham Police Department Facility.
ACO Back summarized the initial incident report and the additions to same to bring the Committee up to date.
Joanne Baldauf shared observations of a visit on January 19, 2013, with Chair Haspel at the home of Robert and Nicole Carbone looking at the site of the incident, the containment structure, and the deck enclosure as well as meeting the household canines, Tonka (American bulldog mix) and Moses (black lab mix). Two cats and a two year old child also inhabit the premises.
Robert Carbone related the sequence of events, showed where it occurred and described the injuries that he observed. He related that they had offered to pay all veterinary costs ($215.00) and had written Ms. Greene a check for the total amount.
He acknowledged the incident was his own fault. He did not see Ms.Greene and her dog and had allowed his dogs to go from his vehicle parked in his driveway to the house without being on lead. Ms.Greene and her dog were by the split rail fence on the east side of the property at or close to the property line.
When Tonka saw them, he crossed his front yard to go to them. These dogs supposedly have a "history". This was the first time Tonka had not gone directly to the house.
The Carbones appear to be concerned, responsible dog owners who
obviously love their animals. The enclosure is adequate for the dogs to run and play. Various toys were visible in the enclosure and when Iplayed "throw the Kong" with them, Tonka always brought it back. The dogs are not left outside when alone. Toys, "blankies" and several water bowls (filled) were also noted in the house.
Notes: Enclosure fence (wood) is about 4 feet high. Reservations about the height of the fence were mentioned and the owners were amenable to increasing its height.
When the dogs are on their deck, any activity occurring on the road in front of the house is visible. The owners suggested moving the front gate to the back of the building so the road would not be visible from the deck.
The owners also seemed agreeable to some sort of training, if suggested.
ACO Back noted that the owner of the other dog involved referred to the incident as an "attack" and stated there was a "history."
The amount of $215 did not seem to indicate a large amount of damage. There was no mention of a follow up appointment at CARE.
Chair Haspel indicated his preference for a 6 foot fence around the dog enclosure. He added that the AKC did not disqualify a dog until the 2"d bite incident. It was also noted that the dog in question had received early socialization at a doy day care facility in Hyannis.
Roger Dumas called the Committee's attention to the current State of Massachusetts regulations definitions of nuisance and dangerous dogs as well as the statewide legislation prohibiting breed specific legislation. It was also noted that there is a current bill on the Senate Docket #1247 titled "An Act relative to dangerous dogs and cities and towns sponsored by Sen. Michael F. Rush (D) based on the Mayor of Boston's priority package of bills to return to breed-specific legislation.
Clerk Baldauf was asked to arrange separate informational meetings on January 29 or January 30 with Ms. Dana Greene and Robert and Nicole Carbone. It was suggested these meetings take place at the conference room at the Eastham Police Facility. Meetings and recommendations to the Board of Selectmen need to be finalized by February 5, 2013.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Baldauf, Clerk
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