The South Hadley owner of a Saint Bernard sentenced to death earlier this month filed an appeal late Friday to save the dog’s life.
Two-year-old Ziggy’s owner, April Marion, of Silver Street, filed the appeal in Eastern Hampshire District Court late Friday, a court clerk confirmed.
The South Hadley Select Board on Aug. 8 ordered Ziggy euthanized after the dog was deemed a threat to public safety. The board approved the motion 4-0, with member Ira Brezinsky abstaining on the grounds that he was not present for a previous hearing on the issue in July.
The board’s decision came after numerous reports of problems with Ziggy and his mother, Tiara, who was put down in May. It was made on the recommendation of Animal Control Officer McClair Mailhott, after the decision was delayed at a hearing in July.
At various times, Ziggy and Tiara, were accused of chasing a mail carrier, biting a jogger and biting another dog.
Attorney Thom Page posted on his Facebook page Saturday that he traveled to the commonwealth that morning to speak with a client whose dog has had a kill order issued against him. Page is an attorney with Thompson Gould Page LLC of Hartford, Connecticut, which lists animal law and litigation as a specialty.
“I don’t suspect the Massachusetts animal laws will be any more developed, updated and fair to owners and their beloved pets, than those in the rest of the country,” Page wrote. “We will fight as we always do in the state courts, and perhaps not achieve our objective of saving this animal, which we will do, until we are forced to bring the Town and the unconstitutional laws they stand behind to indiscriminately kill these animals, into federal court.”
“We will once again be the David against the government Goliath, but being so outnumbered in fighting for their lives will never dampen our resolve,” Page continued. “It merely makes us more determined.”
Marion shared the post on her own Facebook page Sunday.
Neither returned calls for comment Monday.
Town Administrator Mike Sullivan said the town had heard reports an appeal had been filed but the town has not yet been served.
Sullivan said the appeal does not come as a surprise. Marion said after the ruling that she would fight the decision.
A hearing date had not been scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.