Friends of Guilford Dog on ‘Death Row’ Put Up Billboard On I-95

GUILFORD, CT - The owner and supporters of a dog who is currently on death row at the Guilford Police Animal Shelter have a new tactic to build support for their case - a highway billboard on I-95.

The billboard is on the northbound side of the highway that you can see driving on the southbound side of 95 near the Branford/East Haven line. The billboard says: "Help Save Simon & Your Beloved Dogs From Guilford Politicians!

The billboard has been paid for by "Friends of Simon."

It is one of a number of tactics that Dr. David Young, the owner of Simon, and the dog's supporters have taken on in the past year to try and save the dog.

Those include writing Governor-elect Ned Lamont, asking the newly elected governor to intercede on his behalf and holding events on the Guilford Green to garner support and media attention.

Young's recent plea to Lamont says: "As the governor of the state of Connecticut you will soon swear an oath to uphold the highest of standards. As governor-elect of Connecticut I urge you to bring a voice of reason to Guilford officials to do the right thing.

"If an intruder came into our yard carrying a gun and Simon, our dog, protected our family and bit him, he would be hailed as a hero in the news," Young wrote Lamont. "Instead a teenager trespassed in our yard with a lacrosse stick. Simon is now paying the ultimate consequence of being a loyal dog protecting his family."

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.