Hanson Select Board Orders Belgian Malinois Euthanized After Multiple Neighbor Attacks

HANSON — May 19, 2026 — Hanson Select Board reorganizes under new chair Laura Kemet and unanimously orders a Belgian Malinois euthanized after a second dangerous dog hearing on Birch Park Drive. The board, which also welcomed newly elected member Frank Malissi and swore in Police Officer Noah Rigaldo at its May 19 meeting, heard testimony from three bite and attack victims and their neighbors before declaring dog Boone dangerous for a second time — the first determination had been vacated after the owners were not properly served. Animal Control Officer Joe Kenny testified that containment measures installed since the last hearing did not meet the statutory standard, and the board's attorney read into the record the full list of options under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 157, which culminated in humane euthanasia. Owner Jennifer Matiosis testified that storm damage had caused her fence to shift, enabling escapes, and that she had enrolled Boone in a board-and-train program and planned to leave the neighborhood, but left the room before deliberations concluded. "We have to think of the greater good here," Kemet said before the unanimous vote. The board also approved a $40,300 reserve fund transfer to cover unexpected building-department staffing costs, closed Town Hall on Fridays through September 4, and tabled a new Town Planner and Director of Land Use job description until June 9 after no written description was found in the meeting packet.