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Cyclists tell Braintree board large dog chased riders on public road
Summary
A witness at the Braintree hearing recounted two recent encounters in which a large dog ran loose and approached or barked at cyclists; the witness said the owner or family members later restrained the dog and urged board attention to repeated incidents.
At the Select Board hearing, cyclist and witness John Kaplan identified himself and recounted two encounters with the same large dog on public roads near Brainstorm and Farnsworth. Kaplan said on one occasion the dog ran at riders and came "right up to my leg," and that riders used their bikes as a barrier until the owner or a family member secured the dog.
Kaplan told the board he and another rider had previously been approached by the dog, and that on subsequent encounters the owner intervened to gain control. The board noted these witness accounts as part of the factual record and asked staff to gather any additional reports or photos. The testimony contributed to the board's concern about containment and whether leash or fencing requirements might be appropriate as they deliberate.
No formal finding was made at the hearing; board members suspended the session while staff follows up with witnesses, reviews submitted photos and any medical reports, and prepares the record for deliberation and decision.
