CHARLTON — At its May 27, 2025 meeting, the Charlton Select Board held a dangerous dog hearing for Gia, a dog owned by Maureen McGinty of 185 Berry Corner Road. The hearing followed multiple reported attacks on a neighbor’s dogs, including a May 13 incident in which Gia allegedly entered the neighbor’s yard and attacked one of their dogs twice.
Animal Control Officer Emily Sears opened the hearing with her report on Gia. Sears said the initial incident occurred on the evening of March 22, 2023, when she was contacted by a resident, William “Bill” Lepage of 168 Berry Corner Road, who reported that his dog, Sherman, had been attacked by his neighbor’s dog. Sears said she spoke with Lepage and confirmed that the dog involved was Gia, owned by McGinty. McGinty later told Sears that a relative had let Gia out when she slipped out of her collar.
At the time of that incident, Sears noted that Gia was up to date on her rabies vaccine and properly licensed in Charlton. Gia was placed under a 10-day quarantine, and McGinty was cited for a first offense of running at large. Sears said Sherman was treated at an emergency veterinary clinic the following day for injuries sustained in the attack, and a copy of the vet bill was provided as documentation.
On May 13, 2025, Sears said she received another complaint from Mrs. Lepage, who reported that Gia had entered her yard again and attacked her other dog, Penny.
“While on the phone with Mrs. Lepage, she said she was able to get Gia off her dog, Penny, but then Gia went back for a second attack,” Sears said during the hearing. “Mrs. Lepage stated that she saw someone driving slowly past her house and that person was able to retrieve Gia and bring her back home.”
Sears then called McGinty, who said that a dog sitter had let the dogs into the fenced yard while landscapers were working and accidentally left the gate open, allowing Gia to escape.
Sears directed McGinty to quarantine Gia for ten days and informed her she would receive another citation for allowing the dog to run at large.
“Ms. McGinty felt terrible, reassuring me that Gia would not be left unsupervised in the back yard without leash or a run,” Sears said.
Sears added that McGinty also called the vet directly and paid Penny’s vet bill in full.
Sears concluded her testimony by noting that both citations issued to McGinty had been paid and that she had included the related bite reports in her documentation submitted to the board.
Next, the complainants, neighbor Bill Lepage and his wife, gave testimony about their experience with Gia.
Everything the animal control officer said lines up exactly with the truth, multiple attacks by the same dog,” Bill Lepage said. “My wife was there both times, while I was either at work or in the hospital this last time. She was unable to break up the dog fight on her own, and we just want to be sure that something actually, measurable concrete is being done to prevent this from happening again.”
Mrs. Lepage then described a couple other occasions when Gia was in their yard that didn’t result in an attack.
“She was in our yard, my dogs were inside and I shooed her out on one of the occasions, on another occasion I called animal control and said, ‘She’s in our yard, I’m trying to grab her and then the same minivan was slowly driving by, she came in and took the dog,” Mrs. Lepage said. “There’s just multiple occasions where she has been in our yard.”
When Board Member Peter Lancette asked whether there had been “any aggression to humans or if it’s just been to animals,” Mrs. Lepage responded, “On our property, just to the animals.” Board Member Barbara Zurawski then asked Animal Control Officer Sears if there had been any other complaints about Gia. Sears replied, “It’s really just been this family.”
Owner Moren McGinty then spoke on behalf of Gia. Through tears, McGinty turned and apologized to the Lepage’s before giving her testimony.
“I really feel awful about this. I’m sorry — I’m trying to keep myself together,” McGinty said, as she fought back tears. Later adding, “I am the biggest dog lover you’ll find. That’s why I feel so horrible about this. But I do want to point out to all of you that I am not a reckless dog owner. I take this very seriously and, despite the incidents that have occurred with Gia, I can say that I am as diligent as I possibly can be.”
McGinty described the steps she had taken following previous incidents, including fencing her yard in 2023, posting warning signs, and recently installing a padlock on one gate after learning it had been left open. She also said she had fired her landscaping company for repeatedly leaving the gates unsecured.
“There’s no way they can escape my yard unless the gate’s open,” McGinty said. Later adding, “I now have a padlock on the one in the back…I don’t want that one opened under any circumstances. And in the front, I have a sign saying, ‘Make sure you close the gate.’”
McGinty said she adopted Gia from The Great Dog Rescue of New England after the dog was found abandoned on the street while pregnant in Georgia. “She’s had a rough life. She was abandoned while she was pregnant, when she was three years old, down in Georgia. She was on the streets for a while,” McGinty explained. “The Great Dog Rescue of New England ended up rescuing her and brought her up here. Originally they told me that she was good with other dogs — this turned out not to be the case, but I have been working with her, I have brought her to a trainer to try to help her, but she just has these moments where she just snaps.” She’s great with people, she loves strangers that come over, she’s never bitten a stranger, she’s never bitten anyone in my house and she actually is a sweet dog.”
Acknowledging that euthanization had been mentioned as a possible outcome, McGinty pleaded with the board to consider other options, saying it would be devastating to lose Gia.
“I don’t have any children. I’m not married. My dog is my life and it would be devastating to me,” McGinty said. “I just don’t want to give up on her like she was already given up by her first owners.”
McGinty added that she feels terrible about the situation and expressed sympathy for the Lepages.
“I do feel horrible, I would feel the same way that they do in this situation,” McGinty said of the Lepages. “I don’t blame them at all for feeling the way that they feel, but I just want to make sure that I’m speaking up on her behalf and on my own behalf just to say that I will not let this happen again, and I’ll do everything in my power to prevent it from happening.
After McGinty finished speaking, Select Board Member Peter Lancette asked Animal Control Officer Emily Sears whether she had any further recommendations for securing McGinty’s property. Sears said she suggested installing self-closing mechanisms so that, if someone left a gate open, it would shut automatically.
Board members then questioned McGinty about the layout of her fencing. McGinty explained there were only two gates—one in the front leading to the yard, and one in the back leading to the land behind the property. “The only way she could get out is due to human error,” McGinty said, noting that there are no weak points in her fence. She confirmed that a padlock had already been installed on the back gate and offered to do the same on the front if needed. When asked whether she had considered installing spring-loaded hinges, McGinty said, “I haven’t, but I would do that.”
Following the exchange, the board moved into deliberations. Select Board Member Lancette made a motion requiring McGinty to install self-closing mechanisms on the gates and continuing the hearing in three months to monitor compliance and assess whether any additional incidents occur. The motion was seconded and then approved unanimously.
Board members then praised McGinty’s sincerity and sense of accountability.
“From what I have seen—and I have sat through too many dog hearings—she may be the first to ever come here and show genuine remorse and concern,” Select Board Chair David Singer said. “She didn’t come in and blame the victim; instead, she took responsibility, which I think also goes a long way.”
Stephen Koronis, the board’s vice-chairman, replied, “I agree with you. And she did voluntarily pay the vet bills—that does speak volumes.”
