Pit Bull Returned to Owners

Pit Bull Returned to Owners

Billerica Townie News - Joey Vines -- 6/9/2010

At an emotional meeting Monday, the Board of Selectmen ordered a pit bull accused of killing a neighboring Chihuahua returned to its owners, a Nuttings Lake couple, under strict conditions, after a lengthy meeting that lasted into the wee hours of Tuesday morning,the board voted that the pit bull, named Titus, be returned to its owners, Michelle Massa and Frank Magri of 4 Austin Road, but be kept in an enclosure at all times and when outside of the property, the dog must be muzzled.

Keith Mangie of 18 Meadowbank Road alleged that on the evening of May 24, Massa’s pit bull entered his property and viciously killed his Chihuahua, Grady. 

At the time of the incident, the pit bull was under the supervision of Jeffrey Seward of 16 Meadowbank Road. Mangie said that he warned Seward that the pit bull had gone after the Chihuahua previously and to keep the dog off his property, an assertion Seward denies. “I saw everything,” Mangie said. “He viciously killed my dog.”

Seward said that three adults could not pry the pit bull off the Chihuahua and Titus only released the other dog after being sprayed with water.

The pit bull was on a dog runner at the time, however Seward admitted to extending dog’s line so it could reach Mangie’s property.  The Chihuahua was unrestrained at the time of the attack. “Everyone of us is at fault,” said Seward.

Massa, who did not witness the incident, said that small dogs excite the pit bull and said that Titus would not have reacted the way he did if he was not provoked. “I am sorry that this happened,” she said, “but my dog is not an aggressive dog.” Massa also stressed that her dog should not be punished because human error was at fault in this incident.

Police Chief Dan Rosa implored the board to look at the rarity of this case, noting that an attack like this has not occurred in five years. “We are here concerning what I believe to be a threat to public safety,” he said. Rosa said the fact that three adults could not restrain the pit bull concerned him.

Rosa recommended the dog be banished from the town. The board rejected his recommendation. Selectman Marc Lombardo said, “Dogs fight, it happens.” Lombardo also lashed out at Mangie for violating the town’s leash law saying that the incident would have been avoided if the Chihuahua was restrained.

Selectman Mike Rosa disagreed, saying that because the pit bull’s runner extended into Mangie’s yard, where he suspected the attacked occurred, a leash would have made no difference.

Finally the board voted 3-2 to reappoint Ellen Sargent to the zoning board of appeals with Selectmen Lombardo and Andrew Deslaurier opposed. After the meeting, Lombardo said he disagreed with a recent vote by Sargent that allowed Aspen Apartments to build 400 housing units on Rangeway Road.  According to Lombardo, the proposal, which originally sought the construction of 700 units, should have been rejected outright by the ZBA.

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OK… So what I interpret from this is:

Defendant: Titus the pit bull

Victim: Grady the Chihuahua

Titus’ owners: Michelle Massa and Frank Magri of 4 Austin Road

Grady’s owner: Keith Mangie of 18 Meadowbank Road

Date and place of incident: May 24, 18 Meadowbank Road

Caring for Titus on date of incident: Under the supervision of Jeffrey Seward of 16 Meadowbank Road.

It doesn’t state Seward and Titus' relationship or why Seward had the dog that night, but he didn’t live in the home. Titus did not live at the home. Apparently, Keith Mangie told Seward Titus had tried to go after his dog before thus I will assume Titus frequented Seward’s residence.

Conditions:

1.      The pit bull was on a dog runner at the time

a.      Seward admitted to extending dog’s line so it could reach Mangie’s property. 

2.      The Chihuahua was unrestrained at the time of the attack.

OK Jeffrey Seward, you are an a**hole and should be held accountable for your actions for purposely extending the runner to reach the property. Seems to me that Seward and Mangie had a little neighborly dispute or something of that nature and Seward used Titus as an intimidation tactic. Again, A**HOLE! That man is the reason right there so many people despise pit bulls and their owners. Seward deserves a HEFTY fine and another form of punishment.

OK Keith Mangie, I understand it is your yard and stuff but leash laws are not enacted for your health (well maybe slightly). Unless your yard is fenced then it would be wise to leash your dog at all times when not inside your home. I am sorry he lost his pet but a responsible owner wouldn’t let their dog run lose in the front yard, especially when he is already concerned about  a pit bull next door.

As for Titus’ owners, I am sure she was hysterical, as she could have very easily lost her beloved pet. Massa, who did not witness the incident, said that small dogs excite the pit bull and said that Titus would not have reacted the way he did if he was not provoked. “I am sorry that this happened,” she said, “but my dog is not an aggressive dog.” Massa also stressed that her dog should not be punished because human error was at fault in this incident.

I agree with the girl about sparing punishment because of human error, actually I think it is more of human stupidity than error. She definitely shouldn’t have left her dog in the care of someone like Seward; however, she shouldn’t lose her dog because of some idiot’s cruel and downright idiotic actions. Seward deliberately extended the runner with intent to intimidate his neighbor, ending in the loss of a beloved pet. Seward put Titus in an inappropriate situation causing him to act as he did; furthermore, if small dogs excited Titus it is possible his prey drive may have kicked in.

I am analyzing this too much considering I don’t know all the facts etc but I am glad the committee recognized that  “Dogs fight, it happens;” moreover, they recognized this was a preventable tragedy caused by human irresponsibility and not necessarily the actions of a savage killer.