NAHANT — Residents Angela Sharma and Ken Carangelo were at the center of a dog classification hearing at Town Hall Monday night.
The hearing was a result of a complaint filed by Sharma that one of her dogs was physically attacked by Carangelo’s dog in May. Carangelo’s dog was not on a leash at the time.
Nahant Dog Hearing Officer Jennifer McCarthy heard from both Sharma and Carangelo.
Carangelo described his dog, Jade, as a large mixed breed that weighs more than 50 pounds. All three of Sharma’s are reportedly substantially smaller, weighing between 10 and 12 pounds.
Sharma’s counsel first emphasized on behalf of Sharma that her primary goal is to bring about accountability that she wants to see taken by the town for what she feels was a lack of urgency in handling her situation.
Sharma’s counsel argued that Sharma was never able to receive an unbiased professional answer on whether or not Carangelo’s dog had been fully vaccinated. She added the hearing did not take place until more than three months after she requested it.
“My overall feeling was that the town had preference,” Sharma said. “The town was clearly telling me we’re not going to protect you the same way we would protect someone else.”
Sharma gave her account of the incident in which she was walking her three dogs on Willow Road, where Carangelo resides.
She described seeing Carangelo’s dog appear behind her as she walked on the edge of the sidewalk. She admitted that her three dogs began barking at Carangelo’s as they tried to get away. However, Sharma’s oldest dog, Turbo, was picked up in Jade’s mouth and was flailed around. She also testified that her other dog, Valentina, was also grabbed and flung in a similar fashion.
“It was very traumatic,” Sharma recalled. “I start screaming, because I’m just very frightened and extremely stressed out.”
Sharma said she had to take Turbo to the veterinarian immediately after the encounter, and recovery cost close to $1,000.
Carangelo did not deny that the incident took place, however he expressed his desire to have the blame placed fully on him for not having Jade on a leash at the time.
“It is not a factor of the dog being dangerous. It’s the fact that I lapsed and did not have her on a leash,” Carangelo said.
Multiple attendees provided testimony in support of both sides, including Carangelo’s fellow Willow Road resident Susan Pioli. As the owner of relatively small dogs herself, Pioli claimed Jade has always been “completely sweet” toward them.
“I’ve never seen Ken walking Jade without Jade being on a leash ever,” Pioli said.
McCarthy has until Friday, Oct. 11 to make a determination on the case.
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