Kingston Selectmen Deem Two Dogs "Dangerous" After Repeated Biting Incidents

Great Danes' owners face strict containment and insurance requirements following delivery driver attacks

KINGSTON, MA - July 30 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 Tuesday night to classify two Great Danes as "dangerous dogs" following three separate biting incidents involving delivery drivers. The decision came after a lengthy hearing that included testimony from the dogs' owner, animal control officers, and one of the bite victims.

Hank and Bert, owned by Jenna Goldstein, were involved in attacks on April 4, May 4, and July 14. All three incidents occurred when delivery drivers approached Goldstein's home.

"It's the third time that it's happened. That was our concern," said Kingston Animal Control Officer Sonya Buckner. "First time, oops, accident. Second time, you know, shame on you. This is what you need to do. Didn't get done, and now the third incident happened."

Goldstein testified that she had implemented safety measures after the initial incidents, including posting signs, setting up a delivery box away from the house, and providing delivery instructions to companies. However, the Board ultimately decided these efforts were insufficient given the repeated nature of the attacks.

During the hearing, a Portuguese-speaking delivery driver who was bitten in the most recent incident testified through an interpreter. He described being surprised by the dogs despite having delivery instructions: "I was relaxed because I had the print of the owners with me... Surprised by two big dogs that attacked me. One bit my left hand and the other one my left leg."

Goldstein expressed remorse for the incidents and outlined additional steps she's taken, including installing a 5½-foot picket fence around the dogs' outdoor access area and scheduling appointments for the dogs to be neutered.

The "dangerous dog" classification comes with several strict requirements for the owners:

1. Constructing a secure enclosure with a roof and sides embedded at least 2 feet into the ground or secured to a floor

2. Obtaining liability insurance of $100,000 per dog

3. Having both dogs neutered

Buckner emphasized the need for proper containment: "The current status of the fence is not acceptable whatsoever as far as we are concerned and what the state says. It's got to be four walls with a roof."

The Board debated between classifying the dogs as "nuisance" or "dangerous," with some members expressing concern about the severity of the "dangerous" label. Selectman Kim Emberg, who voted against the "dangerous" classification, stated, "This isn't like they're running down the street attacking random people, or they were acting as I would expect a dog in a safe, believed to be safe place of their own, protecting their home."

However, Selectman Tyler Bouchard argued for the stricter classification: "We're not dealing with one, we're not dealing with two, we're dealing with three. And respectfully, this could have been stopped at one."

The owners have until Sept. 30 to comply with the new requirements, though the Animal Control Officers have the ability to grant an extension if needed.