Somerville Resident: Don't Euthanize My Dog

Update, Nov. 26, 2013: Rocco's owner said she was appealing the decision to euthanize her dog. Read more about this incident here.

Posted Nov. 25, 2013

An online petition has gathered steam to save Rocco, a Somerville dog, from being euthanized by authorities.

As of Monday evening, more than 2,300 had signed the petition, with more people adding their names to support the dog by the minute.

Rocco's case is a complicated one. The 6-year-old bullmastiff was sentenced to be euthanized after he attacked another dog on Halloween and bit that dog's owner, sending the owner to the hospital, according to Deputy Chief Michael Cabral of the Somerville Police Department.

But supporters of Rocco say the dog has no previous history of biting and is, for the most part, a gentle soul who should be rehabilitated, not killed, after that one awful incident.

The online petition says, "This is the first time Rocco has shown this behavior … Since the incident, Rocco’s owner has done what she can to ensure this will never happen again. She has agreed to muzzle Rocco when out in public, have him in a crate when not under constant supervision and has hired a trainer to work on Rocco’s behavior. We are seeking justice for Rocco and need your help!"

Meanwhile, Rocco has been held in the city's kennel since Nov. 4, said Cabral, and he is scheduled to be euthanized on Dec. 9, the petition says.

An Awful Incident on Halloween

No one seems to dispute what happened on Oct. 31 when Rocco attacked another dog and bit that dog's owner.

According to the online petition and Cabral, Rocco, from 38 Calvin St., got out of the house and went after another dog that was walking down the street. When that dog's owner tried to intervene, Rocco bit the man.

Bullmastiff's are large dogs, and Rocco weights about 109 pounds, according to Cabral. "The dog owner was seriously injured, [and] required stitches," the deputy chief said, adding the victim spent five nights in the hospital.

A Normally "Kind-Natured" Dog

Somerville Patch has been in contact with Rocco's owner, Rose Walsh, via email, but did not have the opportunity, due to work schedules, to speak with her in time for this post. We will post an update soon. (Ed. note, Nov. 26, 2013: Here is more information based on a conversation with Walsh and some reaction to the story.)

We did speak with Seanna Morris, owner of Paws in the 'Ville, a Somerville dog-walking service that counts Rocco as a client. Morris has also been working to save Rocco.

Morris described Rocco, her client, as the "sweetest, most enjoyable, kind-natured" dog.

She described a perfect storm of events that led to the biting incident. She said Rocco, "like most dogs in the city," can be reactive to other dogs, and "this incident that occurred is a fear-based incident."

She said Rocco was overstimulated from a Halloween party that was taking place at home, and during the party, "a friend left the door open."

That's how Rocco, nervous from the party and unsupervised, got out on the street, where he had a bad reaction to the other dog, she said.

"I don't absolve the dog of this situation," Morris said, adding she's not opposed to euthanizing clearly dangerous dogs.

However, she said, "Dogs are not beyond rehab. Given this is the first incident with this animal, the fact they want to euthanize him is shocking."

A Public Hearing

Rocco was put in the kennel on Nov. 4, and on Nov. 14 there was a public hearing to determine if he was "a nuisance or dangerous dog," according to the hearing's agenda.

Cabral said Walsh, along with the bite victim and some other interested people, attended the hearing, which was held in front of Capt. James Donovan.

Based on the evidence and testimony, and due to "the viciousness and unprovoked nature of the attack," Donovan determined Rocco was a dangerous dog and recommended he be euthanized in a humane way, the deputy chief said.

Cabral, himself a dog owner, said police were concerned about what would happen if Rocco attacked again, particularly if he attacked a child.

Donovan also advised Walsh she had 10 days to appeal the decision, Cabral said.

"It's Not Right"

Morris said she understood the need to look out for public safety. "I feel for the officer," she said. "It must be very difficult to make that decision."

However, she felt it was wrong to "euthanize an animal after one incident" and to "put an animal down that doesn't need to be put down."

She said Walsh is "an extremely responsible woman" who immediately took action after the biting incident to make sure it wouldn't happen again. That included buying a muzzle and a crate, installing gates in the home to prevent Rocco from getting out by mistake and hiring a trainer.

"This animal is 6 years old and does not have a bite record," Morris reiterated, adding, "Everyone deserves a chance to be rehabilitated."

She said as long as Rocco is in the kennel—"a stressful situation"—he's not getting the rehabilitation he needs.

"Does he deserve to be taken from people who love him on a first offense?" she asked.

She said, "If this was your dog, what would you do?"