Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Kingston Selectmen voted July 30 to classify two Great Danes as “dangerous dogs” following three separate delivery driver biting incidents, imposing containment and liability insurance requirements on the owners.
The board voted 3-2 to deem the dogs, named Hank and Bert, as dangerous after hearing testimony about attacks that occurred on April 4, May 4 and July 14 at the home of Jenna Goldstein on Raboth Road.
Along with the “dangerous dog” classification, Goldstein must construct a secure enclosure with a roof for the dogs, obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000 per dog, and have the animals neutered.
Animal Control Officer Sonya Buckner recommended the dangerous designation, citing the repeated incidents.
“It’s three bites, whether they’re gentle giants or not,” Buckner said. “Who’s to say if she walks them off the property? I don’t know how they’re going to be. So our role as public safety officers is to make sure that nothing like this happens again and that we’re not here in another three, four months because something else has happened.”
Goldstein argued she had taken steps to prevent further incidents, including installing delivery instructions, a drop box, and signage warning of dogs on the property. She said the dogs have never had issues with visitors or family members.
“From the start here, I was already putting measures in to kind of protect the dogs, protect people from coming to the house,” Goldstein said. “I am taking this very seriously and I’m very sorry that this did happen”
Board member Kim Emberg expressed reservations about the dangerous classification, suggesting a nuisance designation instead.
“This isn’t like they’re running down the street attacking random people. They were acting as I would expect a dog in a safe, believed to be safe, place of their own, protecting their home,” Emberg said.
However, board member Tyler Bouchard argued the repeated incidents warranted the stricter designation.
“We’re not dealing with one, we’re not dealing with two, we’re dealing with three,” Bouchard said. “And respectfully, this could have been stopped at one. It’s our job now.”
The board set a Sept. 30 deadline for Goldstein to comply with the new requirements, with the option for an extension if needed.