Pit bull granted reprieve

Dog with record of bites allowed to stay in town

By Jonathan Cook

Turley Publications Reporter

WARREN – About a dozen people turned out to speak in defense of Rocco, a pit bull that recently bit a contractor who entered the dog’s home. As a result, the Board of Selectmen spared the dog, despite at least one other confirmed bite incident.

Rocco belongs to Warren Police Officer David Mellen, and longtime selectman David Delanski said he does not recall one time in the past that the town allowed a dog with more than one bite on its record to stay in town. The normal course of action, Delanski said, would be to banish the dog or order it destroyed.

Animal Control Officer Jesse Berard told the board that Rocco, who lives at 217 Maple St., bit a contractor who was working at the house on July 9. According to Berard, the contractor entered the house after he had been told not to do so without permission. Berard added that Warren Police Sgt. Joe LaFlower was also bit by Rocco, but he did not have any details of that attack.

Also, Berard said that he heard the dog bit at least two other people, but he was not able to confirm that. Mellen said the dog did not bite more than two people.

At least a half dozen people spoke in defense of Rocco, claiming the dog has a gentle demeanor. Berard said a dog behavior analyst evaluated the dog recently and Rocco “passed every test.”

Chairman Bob Downing asked if there was a police report on either of the confirmed bites, but Berard said he does not think there was.

Mellen told the board, “I hired the gentleman that got bit to do some work on my yard. Of course Rocco’s right at the door, bow wow wow. I told (the contractor), I says, John, do not go in the house unless I’m with you.” Mellen added, “next day he’s working in my yard, I’m sitting in the lazy boy playing on the computer, I hear knock knock knock, ‘can I use the bathroom?’” Before Mellen could get there, “John walks in and Rocco got him. One bite on his right hand, let go immediately.”

Mellen went on to say that two days later the contractor called back to tell him his hand was infected.

Delanski asked if the dog had been quarantined. Mellen said, “he never leaves my side.”

However, several people who testified to the dog’s good behavior said they had taken the dog for walks or had taken care of the dog when Mellen was out of town.

Selectman Bob Souza said his father raised attack dogs for sentry duty, and as a boy of two, Souza said he was mauled by a pair of dogs. On the other hand, he said, “Rocco probably felt he was protecting his own family and his territory. A dog probably has a right to do that in his own home.”

Delanski moved that the dog be allowed to stay in town with the following conditions, “put signage on the house warning people not to enter, place a martingale type of collar,” and “anytime the dog is off your property it has to be muzzled.”

Souza added that the dog be required to be left only with professional services when Mellen is not able to be there.

The board agreed to those conditions and informed Mellen he has a right to appeal in court.