TELL US: Should Shelter Animals Get Public Hearing?

Last week, Mansfield residents voiced their opinions concerning the euthanization of a pit bull, named Rocco, who was deemed dangerous by animal control officer Jeffrey Collins.

The current law states any pet in the shelter is by definition owned by the town. Selectmen chairman Olivier Kozlowski said that the board can't direct the police chief or the animal control officer to take any action concerning animal issues.

If the dog is owned by a citizen, there is a hearing held by the selectmen before a decision is made.

During a recent Mansfield selectmen meeting, selectman George Dentino said that since the town owned the animals, the town should, by the civil board, be able to decide as to what to do with the animal.

“When the town is the owner of the dog, it should’ve come to the highest authority of the town, the board of selectmen, and have the board weigh in,” Dentino said. “There was no second chance… you can’t do anything about Rocco, fortunately or unfortunately, I believe unfortunately. There are places that take these dogs that are non-kill that try to train them. I don’t enjoy the fact that there wasn’t thought put into this.”

What do you think?

Should the town hold hearings for all animals deemed dangerous by the animal control officer?

Or should the current policy stay the way it is with animal control officer, answerable to the police chief, being able to take action on animals owned by the town without a hearing by the board of selectmen?

Tell us in the comment section: