Groton Woman Charged in Dog Attack That Injured 74-Year-Old Man, Killed His Dog

Police have charged a Groton woman in connection with the dog attack that severely injured a 74-year-old man and killed his small dog at Calvin Burrows Field in August.

According to the police arrest log Erika Santrock, 35, of 136 South Road in Groton, was charged at 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 6, with annoyance by dogs on highway, owning/harboring dog to create a nuisance and having an unlicensed dog/failure to buy license when impounded.

The first two charges carry with them these penalties: a fine not less than $25 or more than $50, and/or imprisonment for not more than thirty days, and a fine not more than $100, and/or imprisonment for not more than thirty days. The third charge is an infraction.

Santrock was released on a promise to appear in court. Her court date is Nov. 20.

Ralph Conwell was attacked Aug. 28 at Calvin Burrows Field in Groton, and rushed to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. His small dog, a 3-year-old Silky Terrier named Lacy, died of her injuries later at Companion Animal Hospital.

The Boxer-Pit Bull mix involved in the attack was euthanized after a required 14-day quarantine to check for rabies. Another dog owned by the same family was relocated elsewhere.

because he had the memory of his dog laying in blood on the field, looking at him as if she were asking for help. But he couldn’t move; he had torn arms and legs and was trying to keep the Boxer-Pit Bull at bay, whose run he'd wrapped around a post.

He said he is still recovering from the loss of Lacy and from his injuries, and he feels responsible for what happened; he said the neighbor's dog had gone after him and Lacy twice before, but he didn't reported it.