Dog Ordered Restrained For Life

Repeat offender Rocket, a Labrador retriever and bulldog mix, will have to remain on restraints from now on.

According to the Martha’s Vineyard Times, “The order requires dog owner Barry Nevin to restrain Rocket, a mix of English bulldog and Labrador retriever, with a harness and chain lead whenever he is outside of her house on Bettencourt Way.”

Rocket recently attacked a dog named Charlie who is owned by Helen Owens who was apparently knocked to the ground while trying to get Rocket off of Charlie. Owens wrote in a statement to the selectmen, “The other dog was on top of Charlie with his mouth in a death grip around Charlie's neck and ferociously shaking Charlie's neck to break his neck and kill him.”

Nevin denied that Rocket was trying to kill Charlie and maintained that he was only trying to play with him.

However, this is not Rocket’s first offense. Animal control officer Barbara Prada cited complaints about Rocket that date back to 2009. She recommended selectmen impose a $200 bond and order permanent restraint.

The meeting itself was cause for another complaint to be filed with the Edgartown board of selectmen. Nevin objected to the meetings being filmed by MVTV. According to the Times, MVTV technician Jim Osmundsen told her to take up the issue with the station. "I'm hired to do a job, and that's what I'm doing," he said. To this Nevin replied, “You and the Nazis.” After the meeting, Osmundsen filed a complaint regarding the comment against Nevin.