On Sunday Greenwich Police responded to a report of a dog bite involving four loose Huskies in the Pemberwick section of Greenwich.
Captain John Slusarz said Police and EMS were detailed to Homestead Lane at 11:48am.
“The reporting person told officers that she was walking her poodle when four Huskies suddenly ‘pounced’ on her dog,” Slusarz explained.
“She grabbed her dog and climbed over a fence to get away from the dogs who then ran away,” he added.
Captain Slusarz added that the woman walking her Poodle suffered minor scrapes and bruises but did not immediately report injuries to the Poodle.
However, on Monday Greenwich Animal Control officer Suzanne Ondreicka said she had spoken to the Poodle owner, who reported that after a thorough inspection she discovered her dog suffered a puncture wound.
ACO Ondreicka said woman walking the poodle was wearing a heavy coat, which was likely why she didn’t suffer puncture wounds as she picked up her Poodle to protect it from the Huskies.
She said she planned to contact the owner of the loose Huskies.
“Dogs are not meant to make their own decisions because they don’t always make the right ones. It’s up to owner to make sure their dogs are secured so they can’t leave the property or go after another dog,” Ondreicka said. “Especially when you have multiple dogs. They can play off each other and the situation can escalate, and something intended to be a hello can escalate.”
“It’s up to the owner to prevent that from happening, and make sure the dogs are secure,” Ondreicka said.
Neighbors who reached out to Greenwich Free Press said they are fearful of encountering loose dogs while walking their dogs in the neighborhood and some carry a baton or baseball bat.
ACO Ondreicka said while Animal Control is staffed with one officer at a time on weekends (during the weekdays there is also a kennel manager), and phone calls may go to their answering machine, messages are returned and she encourages residents to reach out to Animal Control.
“Call Animal Control so we can help. We can inform dog owners of the laws and responsibilities that align with dog ownership,” she said.
On another note, Ondreicka said Animal Control has been full of dogs recently. “We have some really nice dogs,” she said.
Greenwich Animal Control is located at 393 North Street in Greenwich, CT 06830. Call ahead to schedule a time to meet an available dog. (203) 622-8299
You can follow the available dogs at Greenwich’s municipal shelter on PetFinder here.