Mattapoisett dangerous dog complaint dismissed

MATTAPOISETT — A dangerous dog complaint was dismissed after the owner testified and supplied witness statements and documentation.

The Select Board not only deemed the dog not dangerous at its Tuesday, June 23 meeting, but questioned if the complainant's dog was in fact dangerous.

Abby Vierkamp, of Marion, reported that Marcello and Kathy Abbruzzetti’s dog Theo bit her dog, Moonface, in a Feb. 1 incident at Washburn Park in Marion. Because the couple and their dog live in Mattapoisett, the hearing was held there instead of in Marion.

Kathy Abbruzzetti said her three-year-old rottweiler is a “gentle giant” and has no history of reacting aggressively to people or other dogs. Further, she said Vierkamp's dog, a mixed-breed rescue, is aggressive, reactive, and instigated the February incident.

She said there have been several previous interactions between her dog and the complainant's, and each time the other dog growled, barred its teeth and lunged at Theo.

Marcello Abbruzzetti was walking Theo on a narrow, snowy path in February when they passed Vierkamp and Moonface. When the two dogs got close to each other, they had an altercation. 

The Abbruzzettis didn’t believe either dog had been injured, despite Vierkamp's claim that Theo bit Moonface.

“No words were exchanged during this encounter, and neither dog displayed signs commonly associated with a bite injury, such as yelping or distress,” Kathy Abbruzzetti said.

Along with her testimony, she read several emails from fellow dog owners who know Theo and brought forward several witnesses. 

Each said Theo has had friendly interactions with their pets and has displayed patience even with nippy dogs. These witnesses had also had negative interactions with Vierkamp, and reported incidents when Moonface lunged at their dog. 

Animal Control Officer Luke Mello also said in numerous interactions with Theo during an investigation of the complaint, the dog was well-behaved, calm and friendly.

Vierkamp was not present at the hearing, despite confirming she would attend over Zoom and receiving several reminder calls.

The Select Board unanimously decided not to brand Theo a dangerous dog, and Vice Chair Jordan Collyer told people it is important to report incidents such ones they had with Moonface because it illustrates dangerous behavior patterns. 

“I would strongly urge that if there has been an attack or any aggression towards your animal or yourself, that you file a dangerous dog complaint in the town in which the dog is housed,” Collyer said. “When there is a pattern of aggression, it needs to be dealt with, and walking away from it does not help.”