North exiles pooch for barking

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NORTH ATTLEBORO - The owner of a German shepherd that neighbors say has been barking up a storm for almost four years has been ordered to remove the dog from town or surrender her to the animal shelter.

Upon a recommendation from Animal Control Officer Karen Fontneau, selectmen unanimously voted Thursday to order dog owner Eduardo Perez to remove the dog, named Lucy, from 28 Smith St.

Perez has 10 days to place the dog with someone living outside North Attleboro, surrender the dog to the North Attleboro Animal Shelter or file an appeal in district court.

Perez indicated he planned to appeal the decision.

Fontneau said she has received 27 complaints and made 50 follow-up calls to address neighborhood complaints about Lucy's barking since 2005. She made several recommendations to Perez, including the use of a bark collar, designed to stop the dog from barking, all to no avail.

"When the barking collar was on, the barking stopped. But it all started again because the collar was removed or the battery stopped working and nobody noticed," Fontneau said. "She's a nice dog. She wants attention, but she's just not getting it."

Ken Brissette of 33 Spruce St., said Lucy frequently barks for hour-long stretches and into the night.

"You can't sit on the back deck without hearing the dog. I'm sure it's a good dog," he said. "I've got no problems with the dog, except I don't want to listen to it."

Perez countered that Lucy is a "great family dog" that barks only once in a while. He said a child in the neighborhood has made Lucy bark by showing her a cat over the yard's fence.

"One of my neighbors is instigating Lucy with a cat," he said. "I don't see Lucy as a pet that's dangerous to the neighborhood. It's just the opposite - she enjoys playing with children."

Fontneau, however, said tenants in the building have told her Perez has not lived on the property in a year. Tenants feed and give water to the dog and put her in the cellar at night in an arrangement with Perez, the building's landlord.

Selectmen said they had no choice but to order the dog's removal.

"At some point in time, you've got to be in control of the dog," Selectman Michael Thompson said. "The dog has gotten to this point that its barking is a scream for attention.

"You don't give us a choice, other than to have the dog removed. We've tried everything we can. You're not home, you're family isn't home to care for the dog." Selectmen Chairman Paul Belham agreed, saying, "Residents of North Attleboro have a right to quiet enjoyment of their property."

 

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