Wareham officials cite safety concerns in nuisance dog case

Three East Wareham dogs now classified as nuisance dogs following complaints from neighbors and testimony from animal control officials 

The Wareham Select Board voted Tuesday, May 26, to designate three dogs owned by Denise Gottwald as nuisance dogs after repeated complaints about the animals escaping their property near Cranberry Highway. 

Animal Control Officer Kelly Jarabek told the board her office had received multiple complaints about the dogs running loose, including concerns from neighbors about the safety of smaller animals and drivers along Cranberry Highway.

“My concern in this situation is one of the safety of the people in that area,” Jarabek said. “Also right on the highway, those dogs crossing that street — they’re going to cause a car accident.”

Jarabek said officers had responded to several incidents involving the dogs and that it once took about an hour to corral them. She also said she was bitten while attempting to secure the animals during one incident.

A neighbor named Linda, who said she lives about 100 yards away, said that the dogs frequently entered her yard and described the enclosure as a “makeshift fence.”

“I was afraid to get out of the car,” she said, describing an encounter in which the dogs circled her vehicle while she was with her own dog. “I love dogs. I don’t want anything to happen to them.”

Gottwald disputed portions of the complaints and said the dogs behaved well inside the home. Two of the dogs are puppies, about 8 months old, and are offspring of the older dog, Willow. 

Gottwald’s stepson, Joseph Lewis, said the family was taking “proper precautions” to keep the dogs contained, including using run chains and reinforcing fencing with chicken wire as the dogs dig under barriers.

According to the family, the puppies would quickly undo any work done to improve their enclosure such as redigging prior holes. Lewis said the dogs get into trouble only when left unsupervised in the backyard.

“We’re doing our best,” Lewis said. “I’m fixing it as much as I can because I’m injured.”

Board member Judith Whiteside said the owners appeared “sincere but not successful” in their efforts to contain the dogs and added, “I don’t think that you’ve proved to be responsible dog owners.”

Jarabek confirmed all three dogs are currently licensed and vaccinated following quarantine after the bite incident. She recommended the dogs be restrained when outdoors and properly tied to an inanimate object.

The board approved conditions requiring improved fencing, spaying and containment measures, with inspections to follow before the 30-day compliance deadline. Jarabek said failure to comply could result in court action.