Dog that bit another dog will be muzzled through Labor Day

MARION — On March 28, 2024, the Marion Select Board held a public hearing regarding a dangerous dog incident that resulted in a then three-year-old St. Bernard being required to wear a muzzle and be leashed when off her owner’s property.

Between January 2025 and March, the dog, named Georgie, was seen a reported five times without a muzzle, which prompted a reopening of the public hearing on Tuesday, June 3.

“Eye witnesses have seen the owner with the dog outside of the property without it wearing a proper muzzle and without it being on a leash that was only three feet in length,” Town Counsel Gregg Corbo said.

When animal control officer Susan Connor saw Georgie without a muzzle or a proper leash, the decision to reopen the hearing was made.

At the June 3 Select Board meeting, Board members voted to extend the muzzle and leash requirement, which had originally been slated to end on March 28, 2025, through Labor Day and to prohibit Georgie from visiting Silvershell Beach and Washburn Park.

During the public hearing, the Select Board heard from dog owner Verena Hultsch’s pet law attorney Jeremy Cohen, who argued that muzzling Georgie is a “discomfort … [and] a restriction” to the dog.

He cited the fact that St. Bernards are slobbering dogs and argued that while Georgie would be able to pant and drink water, it would be difficult for her to run and chase a ball.

Corbo said he wanted an explanation for why wearing a muzzle would be a punishment or inhumane.

“Muzzles are very commonly worn by dogs all over,” he said. “They make all sorts of muzzles of different sizes to be fitted to a particular dog, so it’s not clear to me what evidence there is that this is somehow a punishment or not humane treatment of the dog.”

Connor acknowledged that St. Bernards are a slobbering breed but noted that Georgie would still be able to pant and drink water and said that so long as Georgie’s on her owner’s property, she doesn’t need to be muzzled.

“She can have people come to her house, and they have a spacious yard to play and to socialize with other dogs without a muzzle,” Connor said.

In addition to being muzzled and on a leash when off of Hultsch’s property, Hultsch will need to continue with dog training and keep Georgie behind a fence that has a “do not open” sign when at home.