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Winchester board approves stipulation to allow seized dogs to be adopted following public appeals
Summary
After hours of public comment and documentary testimony from rescues and witnesses, the Winchester Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a stipulation that relinquishes the defendant’s ownership and clears the seized dogs for adoption, while staff said adopters will be vetted by the town animal control officer with assistance from the Simon Foundation.
The Winchester Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Jan. 20 to approve a stipulation resolving part of the civil case over 21 dogs seized in the Sarah Smolac matter, clearing the animals for adoption and ending the town’s active custodial hold.
The decision followed a long public‑comment period in which rescue groups and witnesses presented FOIA documents, police reports and court transcripts they said show foster placements tied to Smolac or her associates were made before the court’s July 1, 2025 deadline and, in their view, violated the court‑approved agreement. "We believe the board and the public have been misled through the omission of critical facts," said Carrie Taylor of Chimera Sanctuary and Rescue, urging the board to require an unconditional surrender and to return specific dogs to the Simon Foundation for independent placement.
Nicole Strickland, K9 adoption coordinator for the Simon Foundation, told the board the foundation was asked only to screen foster applicants and was not given authority to approve placements; she said Simon repeatedly raised concerns by email about applicants who disclosed ties to Smolac and that staff had identified safer non‑affiliated placements well before July 1. "We were never told Ike had been surrendered by Smolac," Strickland said. "We were told to move forward with Alana by the town." Strickland and other witnesses presented exhibits the board and public were told show communications between the town’s animal control officer, the town attorney and Smolac’s counsel.
After returning from executive session, the town manager said the approved stipulation requires the defendant to "voluntarily, knowingly, and irrevocably relinquish and forfeit all right, title and interest in the dogs," and indicated the dogs will be available for adoption. "As of whenever this agreement is signed, I'm adopting all the dogs out. Every single one of them," the town manager said, adding that the stipulation does not release the defendant from any criminal liability or civil obligations for costs.
Town staff said the Harington animal control officer will oversee adoption vetting and that the Simon Foundation may continue to assist by identifying and recommending candidates, as was allowed by court direction earlier in the case. Several public speakers urged that Simon remain involved in screening to avoid any appearance of impropriety; Simon representatives offered to share vetting materials and applications with ACO staff.
What the board approved was the town’s legal authority to complete the disposition described in the stipulation and to let the adoption process begin. The stipulation and the board’s action do not alter any pending criminal charges against the defendant and do not prevent the town from pursuing reimbursement of costs incurred in the seizure and care of the animals.
Next steps: town staff will implement the stipulation, accept adoption applications and coordinate placement with the Simon Foundation and the animal control officer. Citizens who presented exhibits said they will follow up with the town attorney and ACO staff to verify that non‑affiliated placements are prioritized in line with the court‑approved agreement.
