UPDATE : Guilford Dog No Longer on “Death Row” - But Not Home

GUILFORD, CT - The good news for supporters of Simon, who was on death row at the Guilford Police Animal Shelter, for more than a year, is he is free.

The bad news is he hasn’t been returned to his owner. Instead he is on his way to a new “sanctuary home” for unwanted animals in Michigan under a compromise agreement reached with the Town of Guilford.

A person close to the owner of the dog, Dr. David Young, confirmed to Patch the agreement, stating Young was taking Simon, a pitbull mix, to his new home on Thursday.

At the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Matt Hoey said his understanding is a long awaited settlement on the case is “four or five days away.”

Hoey was also asked how much the Town has spent on attorney fees fighting the case. He answered about $40,000.

Thursday afternoon, after Patch posted its story about the Simon, Guilford police issued the following press release: " On June 20, 2019 the Municipal Animal Control Officer of the Town of Guilford released Simon the dog to the Devoted Friends Animal Society, Inc., after ownership of the dog was transferred to this Michigan based organization. The pending appeal with the Department of Agriculture is expected to be withdrawn and the dog will not be returned to the State of Connecticut."

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

He was freed earlier this week for his ride to Michigan.

Young and his lawyer had also filed a motion against the state seeking a court hearing on his "First Amendment" rights being violated. It is unclear what the status of that case now is.

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 Hoey had the authority to get Simon off "death row."

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

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

Besides attending selectmen meetings, Simon’s supporters also held rallies, protests, fundraisers, press conferences and also paid thousands of dollars for a billboard that sits off Interstate 95 in East Haven saying: “Help Save Simon & Your Beloved Dogs From Guilford Politicians.”