SOUTH HADLEY — They delayed the decision as long as possible, but near the end of Tuesday’s 90-minute meeting Select Board members had to announce that a 2-year-old Saint Bernard deemed a threat to public safety should die.
The board approved a motion 4-0, with one abstention, for Ziggy, owned by April Marion of Silver Street, to be euthanized. Board member Ira Brezinsky abstained on the grounds that he was not present for the hearing in July.
“This is really unfortunate,” Vice Chairman John Hine said. “We are in a position now where we have to act, and unfortunately, we don’t really have any options. It’s a sad day.”
Marion has 10 days to appeal the order in district court, which she said she would do.
The decision comes after a long history of problems for Ziggy. In May 2016, Animal Control Officer Shawn O’Brien said Ziggy and his mother, Tiara, also owned by Marion, chased a mail carrier and bit a jogger.
At that May 2016 Select Board meeting, the board put in place several requirements for Marion. According to board records, she had to buy an insurance policy for $100,000 of coverage for dog bites, keep the dogs fenced in and keep them muzzled and leashed on walks.
In February 2017, a woman was walking her dog down Silver Street when her dog was attacked by one of Marion’s dogs, according to police reports.
In May, a 74-year-old man was walking down Silver Street with his wife when he was bitten by one of the dogs, police said.
After that incident, Marion decided to euthanize Tiara, 4. But Ziggy still lived with her.
On May 24, South Hadley’s public health director, Sharon Hart, wrote that the dogs were not licensed with the town and Marion had not shown proof of rabies vaccination.
The board made its decision Tuesday on the recommendation of Animal Control Officer McClair Mailhott, after delaying the decision at a hearing in July.
Ziggy “presents a significant public safety threat, and the owner has demonstrated an inability to comply with previous orders to protect the public,” Mailhott said in his recommendation.
Marion attended the meeting Tuesday, but sighed heavily and left as soon as the board announced she would have to put down Ziggy.
“I am definitely going to fight this,” Marion said. “My dog is harmless. This town is shameful.”
Board members were no happier.
“I’m sad, frustrated and angry that this is an action we have to take,” board Chairwoman Sara Etelman said. “This is not something I ever wanted to do.”
This story was updated at noon on August 9, 2017, to add the name of the board member who abstained from voting and his reason for doing so.