Portland girl’s 1,150-signature petition asks town to release impounded pit bull

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PORTLAND — Some two-dozen residents came forward Wednesday to plead for the life of Rocky, a 4-year-old mixed-breed pit bull slated to be put down after savagely attacking a dog walker more than two years ago.

Several speakers called upon the Board of Selectmen to “let Rocky go home.”

Rocky has been kept in the Portland pound for more than two years while the state Department of Agriculture, which has the final say on ordering a dog to be put down, reviewed the case.

The victim in the Jan. 31, 2016, attack was taken to Middlesex Hospital, where he required stitches to close bite wounds to his ankles, thighs and groin region after he was attacked while walking his dog. The victim’s wife said her husband had to “karate-kick” Rocky to escape.

The matter drew renewed attention following a large article about the case in last week’s edition of the weekly Rivereast newspaper.

After she finished reading the story, Annabella Maruschock, 10, was so upset “she typed up a petition” calling on the selectmen to spare Rocky, Annabella’s mother Kim Maruschock said. When she posted the petition online, Annabella got 40 signatures almost immediately.

Her mother suggested Annabella use the website Change.org. Wednesday night, Annabella said she had gathered 1,150 signatures. “I’m not going to quit until Rocky comes home,” she insisted.

Kim said the fight over Rocky is “the right topic at the right time” for her daughter, who is so committed to animals that “No spider in our house gets hurt.”

Annabella was the first speaker to address the selectmen Wednesday. “It’s time to let Rocky come home,” she said, adding, “Even people get second chances when they do worse crimes.”

She was followed to the microphone by Alana Tuttle, who described herself as a volunteer dog rescuer and foster owner. “I have two children and two dogs, and they really are my children, too, so I have four children.

“I’m familiar with many different types of dogs and breeding and training,” Tuttle said, adding while Rocky needs training, so too does his owner, Paul Bell. She called upon the selectmen to “give Rocky the chance he deserves.”

Natalie MacNeal, who said she was “a rescue advocate for dogs all my life,” said Rocky “is not aggressive dog. He just didn’t get enough time with his owner,” so they could both be trained.

“My evaluation of him is that he’s a great dog. He wants to learn and he wants to please.” However, Rocky was “a victim of human error.”

MacNeal, who owns three pit bulls, said, “You have to be clear with dogs and set boundaries.” She, too, called upon the selectmen to “give Rocky a chance — and give me a chance as his trainer.”

Carolann Violissi, who said, “I am new here,” admitted, “I don’t know much about the case.” However, “I love dogs more than humans. I want to find a solution. I don’t want a fight.”

She suggested mounting a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help build a fence to keep Rocky in his own yard — if, as she hopes, he is released. But Violissi also claimed when a police officer said Bell could not walk Rocky outside a fenced-in area at the pound, the action was “political” and “feels like retaliation.”

Hartford attorney Thompson G. Page, an animal rights litigator, challenged the town’s assertion it could be liable if Rocky was released and then attacked another resident.

If the town released Rocky with the understanding that he be muzzled when outside, kept in a fenced-in area, “and all sorts of restraints,” Bell, and not the town, would be liable if Rocky attacked again.

“We could debate this forever,” Page said, adding, “Most of my clients are irresponsible dog owners.”

He demanded the selectmen search town records looking for any claim against the town for releasing a dog under the conditions he described. He said they would find none.

First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said the town is working with its legal firm Murtha Cullina to find a reasonable solution to the issue.

Rocky’s advocates left promising they would return to future meetings and keep up the pressure until Rocky can, at last, go home.

Reporter Jeff Mill covers East Hampton, Cromwell and Portland for the Middletown Press. Contact him at jeff.mill@hearstmediact.com.