Selectmen Dismiss Dog Barking Case

With almost 75 people in attendance, the majority supporting the local kennel accused of excessive barking by some neighbors, the selectmen voted unanimously to dismiss the case after a public hearing.

Last night, the selectmen opened a public hearing because a petition with at least 25 signatures saying there is excessive barking at Dalton's Cherrywood Kennel at 780 Grafton St. was submitted to the board, making it necessary to have a hearing.

The people who spearheaded the complaint, Joshua and Marcile Holden, who live at 782 Grafton St., said there is excessive barking from the kennel at all hours of the day and night.

"Mr. and Mrs. Holden do not wish to close the kennel," said Charmaine Blanchard, who represented the couple at the meeting. "We just want constraints put on the property."

The Holdens said they hear excessive barking and the staff yelling, "Shut up" at the dogs, in an attempt to quiet the dogs, Joshua Holden said.

"We hear the excessive barking about two to three times a week and then the staff yells at the dogs to quiet them," Holden said.

"I'm home with my 3-year-old son during the days, and it is a lot more than what my husband sees—the dogs are barking all the time," said Marcile Holden. "It never was like that before."

Marianne Jubert of 794 Grafton St. agreed with the Holden family about the barking. "I can vouch for the noise and I live five houses away," said Jubert. "During the summer, there is barking all the time."

Peter Melkowski of 46 Orchard Meadow Drive also agrees with the Holdens. "Every Sunday morning, the dogs are continually barking," he said. "We've been here about seven or eight years and the barking conditions are about the same."

Stephen Madaus of Mirick O'Connell in Worcester represented Dorothy Dalton, owner of the kennel, at the hearing last night.

"In the 34 years the Daltons have owned the kennel, the town has not cited them for anything," Madaus said. "If these residents moved in next to a kennel, they would hear a certain amount of barking. I don't think this raises to the level of excessive and I think the selectmen should dismiss this petition."

Many residents, doning button saying, "We support Daltons" were in attendance and came out to support the kennel, saying it was a clean facility and the Daltons take great care to make sure loud dogs are removed.

"I am a full-time customer of the kennel," said Paul Camponello, who lives on West Main St. "I have heard some barking, but it has been more insignificant barking and they offer a very high standard of care for my dog."

"These people chose to buy property next to a kennel," Camponello said. "Dorothy runs a great business."

Ken Coniff of 10 Berkshire Road in Shrewsbury said his dog was asked to be removed from the kennel because of barking.

"We were asked to bring him back only if we used a bark collar," Coniff said. "We had a golden retriever before and the Daltons wouldn't take him back because of his barking."

With overwhelming support for the kennel owner from those in attendance, the selectmen had no choice, but to dismiss the case against Dalton.

In a unanimous 4-0 vote, the selectmen dismissed the claims.

"I'm just glad it's over," said Dalton after the vote.