Dog Quarantined After Killing Small Dog

A large breed dog remains in quarantine at the Milton Animal Shelter after she got out of a Church Street residence and killed a Yorkshire terrier on Sunday, June 2.

"It's one of those very unfortunate, tragic accidents," said Animal Control Officer Nancy Bersani.

Bersani said the dog's owner, an elderly female, opened the door on Sunday evening when the dog escaped. Another woman was walking two yorkies in the area. According to Bersani, the walker picked up one of the small dogs, but the other was bitten and killed.

While the initial 911 call indicated the dog bit a person, Bersani said that report is unfounded.

The dog will remain at the Milton Animal Shelter until a public hearing is held about the incident. A date has not been set, but Bersani said it will likely be in about two weeks.

In all incidents like this, there are three possible outcomes: the dog could be returned home, usually with accommodations like additional fencing or a muzzle, the dog could go to a new home or the animal could be euthanatized if deemed aggressive to humans. 

Bersani has already spoken with the quarantined dog's owner and a decision has been made not to return the two-year old dog to her home.

"It's too much dog for this home," said Bersani.

In the past three years, Bersani said their have been four or five other dogs who have had hearings for biting. One dog killed another dog. None of those dogs were euthanized; one was returned to its owner with new accommodations and the other two were sent to new homes. The dogs have not had subsequent issues.

When a date for the hearing is set, this story will be updated.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story indicated that other incidents involved the death of other dogs. There have been incidents of bites, but only one death in Milton in recent history.