Published: 8/10/2017 10:22:50 PM
ATHOL — Clerks at Orange District Court say there does not appear to have been an appeal made by the man whose dog was ordered by the Athol Selectboard to be humanely euthanized.
Eric F. Zewiey, 52, of 399 Unity Ave. in Athol, had until July 31 to file an appeal in an attempt to spare the life of Lillie, his female retriever mix. But Selectboard Chairman Lee Chauvette said the town has not been officially notified by the court of an appeal. Any steps the town then takes depends upon what the board learns from the court.
Repeated attempts to contact Zewiey since the deadline passed have been unsuccessful. Before the deadline, Zewiey said he planned to file an appeal.
The Selectboard voted last month to order Lillie to be put down by a veterinarian, as allowed by state law, after the dog reportedly bit a woman on Feb. 11, 2016, and then a 15-year-old boy, who was out jogging, on June 12, 2017. The recommendation for euthanization came from Animal Control Officer Jennifer Arsenault, who said Lillie has also attacked several other dogs.
The vote came three months after the Selectboard deemed the dog dangerous and ordered it to be restrained at all times.