Littleton Select Board Unanimously Declares Neighbor's Dog a Dangerous Animal

LITTLETON — January 13, 2025 — Littleton Select Board opens 2025 by declaring a neighbor's dog dangerous and hearing a $104 million school replacement financial briefing. The board voted unanimously January 13 to find Gromit, a 95-pound dog owned by Mark Tesler of 94 Cricket Lane, a dangerous dog under MGL Chapter 140, Section 157, ordering the animal confined to private property, muzzled when off the owner's property, and covered by at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Animal Control Officer Phyllis Tower presented a seven-incident chronology dating to November 2023, including two bite incidents requiring medical treatment; neighbor Abigail Luciano testified that a February 2024 bite required stitches and left likely permanent nerve damage in her hand. "Others cannot enjoy a public space because of your dog, and that's right there across the line for me," one board member said. In a separate joint session with the School Committee and Finance Committee, Town Administrator Ryan McLaughlin presented analysis showing that the proposed $104 million Shaker Lane Elementary School replacement — carrying a net town cost of $74.7 million after an estimated $29 million in MSBA reimbursement — could be brought to a first-year split-tax-rate impact of roughly $1,000 per average household through a combination of bond premium proceeds and $4.18 million in pre-funded stabilization deposits, down from an initial worst-case estimate of $1,842. The three bodies agreed to meet February 1 to align on a 10-year capital plan before the district's January 29 MSBA presentation.