‘Death Row’ Dog Owner Says Guilford Meetings ‘Unconstitutional’

GUILFORD, CT - The owner of a dog who has been in a long fight with the town of Guilford over its decision to put his dog down is trying a new tactic in his fight to save his dog’s life.

Guilford Resident David Young, the owner of Simon, a mixed breed dog currently housed at the Guilford Animal Shelter for biting a youth, says Guilford town Board of Selectmen meetings are undermining the state’s Constitution and need to immediately stop.

"The fact that the Guilford town Selectmen meetings are held at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays and limit public discourse to three minutes is unconstitutional,” Young said. “This is clearly intended to keep most Guilford taxpayer from attending and blatant attempt to limit free speech and the right to petition,” said Young.

In fairness it should be pointed out that many towns - including nearby Madison - hold early morning selectmen meetings. And some towns, but not all, also place time limits on public comments.

Young is actively in a heated battle with the Town of Guilford which has held his dog Simon on death row since 2017.

Young, his lawyer, and his public relations consultant have tried a number of tactics to force the town to release Simon, including asking newly elected Gov. Ned Malloy to pardon the dog.

Young is appealing the town's decision to the state that the dog be euthanized after biting a teenager. Currently, Simon is locked up at the Guilford Police Animal Shelter, awaiting the outcome of an appeal hearing in front of the state Department of Agriculture.

Young and his lawyer has now filed a motion against the state seeking a court hearing on his "First Amendment" rights being violated.

A police report states that Simon bit and chased a 13-year-old neighbor who entered Young's yard with a lacrosse stick to retrieve his ball. The boy needed stitches.

Young says that Simon was just protecting his property.

But the police report said Simon had another incident, this time with another dog, six months earlier. The report also cited complaints from several neighbors who claimed they walk the neighborhood with sticks because Simon gets out of the yard.

Young has refuted those reports.

Young and a band of Simon's supporters who habitually attend selectmen meetings, believe First Selectman Matt Hoey has the authority to get Simon off "death row."

The decision to euthanize the dog was made before Hoey became first selectman.

The decision, which has been on hold for almost a year, was made after hearings by the Guilford Police Department and its animal control officer after the boy was bit.

The decision was made by after hearing testimony from Young, the bite victim, neighbors of Young, and police reports were reviewed.