To the editor:
In Anthony Cammalleri’s follow-up article, “Nahant rules Tucker a ‘dangerous dog,’ lets him live,” the Horrigans’ attorney, Jeremy Cohen, got it right when he said the town of Nahant was correct in rejecting the absurd demand that Tucker be extradited to Massachusetts for execution.
However, Mr. Cohen was wrong when he said the town got the overall decision right, because Tucker is not a “dangerous” dog. He is a dog, and he reacted like a dog.
I want to state clearly that I have tremendous sympathy for Emily Spinucci and the experience she endured. Clearly, she was trying to be helpful and neighborly when she went to assist in retrieving Tucker, who took advantage of the open door upon her arrival.
If someone had broken into the Horrigan family home and attempted to harm any member of the family and Tucker, as a dog, acted on instinct and went toward that intruder to stop him or her, Tucker would have been hailed a hero. In this instance, Tucker felt personally threatened and he reacted.
I have known Tucker since he came to Nahant. I have watched him at his home; he has stayed with me in my home; I have run into the Horrigan home unexpectedly in an emergency situation when Tucker was there alone; I have let people who have needed to do work at the home inside and there has never been a sign of aggression. Tucker doesn’t even bark when strangers come around.
The Horrigans did the neighborly thing and they moved Tucker away from Emily so she would not have to live with the fear of anything like that ever happening again.
I don’t think that she can understand the depth of the loss that the Horrigan family feels. They were shocked and saddened by the event. They wanted Emily to be alright and to feel safe. Even when their veterinarian said Tucker was not a dangerous dog, should not be euthanized, and that the incident was due to human error, they did not then try to turn the tables on Emily.
Instead, they went through great personal expense and heartache to move Tucker to his breeder.
Honestly, I believe that the Horrigans should have been applauded for their ethical and moral character through this entire process. This was a very unfortunate situation, and no one is happy on either side with the outcome. But Tucker is not dangerous. He is a dog… a very loved, very sweet, very good dog.
Heartbroken in Nahant,
Linda Gaudet
