Barre Town awards damages in dog death
Toolbox
By Mel Huff Times Argus Staff - Published: July 12, 2006
BARRE TOWN – A woman whose 8-month-old Siberian husky killed a neighbor's Yorkshire terrier last month learned that losing control of an aggressive dog can be costly. The Selectboard voted unanimously Tuesday night to award $965 in damages to Nancy Hammond, the owner of the 4 1/2 pound terrier that was shaken to death by the husky.
Officer Michael Gay investigated a violation of the town's nuisance control ordinance a little after 6 a.m. on June 28 at Hammond's home. He reported the following details of the attack to the Selectboard:
Gay said Hammond told him that her 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Teddy, had asked to be let out at 6 a.m. Hammond opened the door and hooked him to his leash, but as Teddy left the porch, a large, white dog seized him in his mouth. Hammond grabbed Teddy's leash, wrested him away from the white dog and carried him into the house. As the white dog jumped at the door and banged against the glass, Hammond examined her lifeless pet, found a hole in his left side and saw his intestines were exposed.
Hammond told Gay she thought the dog belonged to her neighbor who lived at 469 Camp Street. Gay said he crossed the street and found a white husky with blood on its mouth tied to the porch. According to Gay, Tonya Farnham told him, "Take her! It was her! Look at the blood on her face!"
Gay said he couldn't destroy the dog and told Farnham she would have to take it to a veterinarian to have it disposed of.
Gay said he asked Farnham if she let the husky, named Sierra, run loose. Farnham she said she didn't but that Sierra could push open the door if it wasn't latched right. That morning, Sierra had shoved open the door and raced across the lawn, Farnham told Gay. Shortly after, Farnham heard Hammond screaming and saw Sierra running back to the house with blood on her face. Farnham hooked the dog to the porch and waited for Gay to come. Later that day, she had the dog put down. Hammond said Farnham came to her home and apologized to her.
Hammond asked the Selectboard for restitution of $965, an amount that included $800 for the replacement value of the dog, $15 for a veterinary bill and $150 for an airline ticket for her daughter to fly home to be with her. "It was devastating to see it and experience it," she said of the attack.
Hammond told the Selectboard that Teddy had belonged to her husband, who died a year ago. "Before my husband died, he told the children to take care of me. All I had to take care of was the dog," Hammond said.
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