Plymouth Select Board Affirms Euthanization of Dangerous Dog After Several Bites and Police Attack
PLYMOUTH — July 28, 2026 — The Plymouth Select Board voted 2-1 on Tuesday night to affirm a hearing officer’s decision to humanely euthanize an unlicensed and unvaccinated dog owned by resident Rosemary Quintal following a string of violent attacks against residents and law enforcement. Town officials revealed that the animal was used as a dangerous weapon against police officers during an April incident, leading to pending criminal charges, and went on to bite a neighbor earlier this month after the owner refused to comply with quarantine or safety orders.
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In a solemn and tense proceeding, Town Attorney Stacey Verde detailed a harrowing multi-year timeline of aggression involving the dog. According to town records, the animal’s violent history began in May 2025 when it attacked another dog. Over the following year, the dog repeatedly bit pedestrians, attacked a police officer, and engaged in a March 2026 biting incident. The situation escalated dramatically on April 2, 2026, when police responded to the owner’s address and Ms. Quintal allegedly used the dog to interfere with officers, resulting in pending criminal charges for assault with a dangerous weapon.
Following a formal dangerous dog hearing on April 29, 2026, Hearing Officer Christopher Badot issued a ruling on June 3rd giving Quintal 30 days to license, vaccinate, securely contain, and muzzle the animal when it left the property. Quintal failed to appeal or meet any of the safety mandates. On July 15, the uncontained dog bit a neighbor on his own property and attempted to attack him again the following day. When Quintal refused to surrender the animal for quarantine, town officials obtained a court warrant on July 20. Plymouth Police, Plymouth Animal Control, and New Bedford Animal Control executed the warrant on July 22 to seize the dog. Verde noted that the dog remains intensely aggressive while impounded, lunging and growling at shelter staff. It has also attacked at least two Plymouth Police Officers.
Board members expressed deep discomfort with the decision but emphasized that public safety left them no alternative under state law. Town Counsel explained that once an animal is legally deemed dangerous and conditions are breached, Massachusetts statute prohibits rehoming or releasing the dog outside town borders.
The board voted 2-1 to confirm the findings, with Vice Chair David Golden and Chair Deborah Iaquinto joining Board Member Bill Keohan, who expressed frustration with the procedural setup. Select Board members Kevin Canty and Richard Quintal recused themselves from the hearing. Immediately following the vote, a heated exchange broke out on the dais when Keohan confronted Golden, leading Chair Iaquinto to call for decorum.
Mr. Keohan I said that you’re a coward.
No, that’s not what you said. Say what you said...
Mr. Keohan, I said that you’re a coward. Madam Chair, I yield the floor back to you...
People need to know the language that you are using on this board. — Exchange between Board Member Bill Keohan and Vice Chair David Golden
Chair Iaquinto immediately intervened to restore order, calling for a respectful discussion before moving on to the remaining town business.
