MARION — A dog that was ordered to be leashed and muzzled by the town has since been observed unleashed and unmuzzled in public multiple times, a Wednesday, Oct. 16 update regarding the dog indicated.
Georgie, a St. Bernard owned by Marion residents Verena and Tom Hultsch, was first accused in February of attacking another dog at Silvershell Beach.
During a March hearing, the dog was ruled to be leashed and muzzled in public at all times for a year and trained weekly for 6 months. It was also determined that animal control officer Susan Connor would examine the fencing at the Hultsch’s residence.
During a six month update to the Marion Select Board regarding the dog, Connor said there was an apparent incident in which Georgie was seen unmuzzled at Silvershell Beach “just after” the March 28 hearing.
Connor was not able to confirm that report, and she has not seen the dog or had contact with its owners or trainer, she said.
Still, she said she saw “no reason” for there to be any change to the safeguards the dog and its owners had been ordered to follow, which Connor recommended continue indefinitely, due to Marion’s “very loose leash law.”
Norm Hills, chair of the Marion Select Board, said he had seen the dog walking a couple times. The St. Bernard has “always been unleashed, unmuzzled,” and not bothering any other dogs around, Hills said he had observed.
During the hearing in March, the St. Bernard was accused of attacking a goldendoodle at Silvershell Beach in December 2023. The goldendoodle suffered a puncture wound during the attack, according to Fairhaven resident Miles Grant, who said he had to kick Georgie several times to separate the dog from his.
Two letters submitted to the town also alleged instances of Georgie attacking other dogs. Connor also reported encountering the dog in May 2023 and finding Georgie not suitable to be off-leash after the dog aggressively moved toward her.
“I feel that Georgie has a propensity to dislike golden retriever-like dogs, some of them, and I feel that it’s a risk to the public,” Connor said during the six-month update Oct. 16.
An inspection determined that Georgie’s owners had a wooden fence and had mended holes in it with wood, according to Connor.
Marion Select Board member Randy Parker also asked that a report be sought confirming the dog had received the training mandated during the March hearing.
The Marion Select Board will review the dog again in six months.
