Selectmen Declare Graniteville Road Dog As Dangerous

After multiple incidents over the past few months, a Graniteville Road dog was declared dangerous by the Chelmsford Board of Selectmen on Monday evening.

Bear, a black Labrador retriever mix owned by Kenneth St. Hilaire of 209 Graniteville Rd., bit a man in April and also cornered a nearby woman on her own property according to Chelmsford Police Animal Control officer Erik Merrill.

Despite multiple warnings and citations as well as a criminal complaint for not quarantining the dog after its bite, Merrill advised that the board require multiple actions from St. Hilaire, including keeping the dog enclosed at all times when at home and requiring the animal be put into a basket muzzle and kept under supervision when not enclosed.

Merrill’s recommendation also included requiring the animal to wear a red and yellow striped collar indicating that it is dangerous, due in large part to Merrill saying St. Hilaire brought the dog with him to work at his business in North Chelmsford.

“This dog will bite again, I have no doubt about it,” said Merrill.

While Selectmen were wary of issuing a euthanization order for the dog without St. Hilaire’s presence at the meeting, which he was invited to by a certified letter, the general consensus was that action needed to be taken quickly, particularly since the dog’s home was located near several schools.

“He had his chance to be here tonight,” said Selectman Jim Lane.

St. Hilaire could not be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon.