A pair of dogs who regularly run off their owners’ properties — much to the frustration of neighbors and beachgoers — have 60 days to start showing off their best behavior. 

The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted on June 15 to continue a “nuisance dog” hearing, allowing the Department of Natural Resources more time to work with the owners, who have tried to cooperate in the past. 

Animal Control Officer and Animal Inspector Cheryl Gorveatt-Dill spoke on behalf of the Department of Natural Resources read a complaint that described the dogs — which are friendly, not dangerous — as a “nuisance.” 

She explained that the dogs regularly leave the large properties they live on and run “loose in the area” of their homes on Sherburne Way and Green Gate Lane. Gorveatt-Dill described the dogs as “very good escape artists.”

The problem has persisted since at least 2019, and efforts to work with the owners to prevent the issue have failed so far, Gorveatt-Dill said. 

“We’ve written citations, we’ve given warnings, I’ve personally picked up the dogs on more than one occasion,” Sheryl said. “We’re here in the hopes that we can find a way to prevent this situation from continuing.”

The dogs in question — Coco, described as a standard poodle, and Rocky, a golden retriever — belong to Thomas Worthen and John Reidy, respectively.

Worthen attended the nuisance dog hearing and explained that his brother-in-law, who lives on the property and is close with one of the dogs — the 13-year-old poodle — is “well down the path” with Alzheimer's disease. Because of his illness, he sometimes leaves doors open, allowing the dog to escape.

Worthen testified to a number of measures the family has taken to keep the dogs on their property, including setting up a tie-out stake and a fenced-off pen. He said they only run off when they’re outside together: “Individually, they go out, and they’re not a problem.”

He also emphasized that the dogs pose no threat.

“They’re certainly companion dogs,” Worthen said. “They’re not threatening dogs in any way.”

He said he only knew of one location when the dogs had gotten off the property in recent weeks, but neighbors said otherwise. 

Nancy Edwards said the troubles with the dogs running off have been “ongoing for many years” — even before 2019.

“The first thing I would say is those dogs were up on my property yesterday, so whatever’s going on right now isn’t working,” said another neighbor, Morris Edwards. 

Gorveatt-Dill said the dogs are often found on Little Harbor beach or on neighbors’ properties.  

The Board of Selectmen brainstormed a number of potential solutions that might stop the dogs from escaping. An electric fence, fencing around the doors (rather than around the perimeter of the large properties) and door-ajar alarms were among the options discussed. 

Ultimately, at Gorveatt-Dill’s recommendation, the board chose to continue the hearing, which will allow the Department of Natural Resources 60 days to work out a long-term solution with the owners. If the issue persists during the 60-day period, the department could ask to pick up the issue again sooner.