Local News
“Many members of our department are dog owners themselves and recognize the pain and trauma experienced by the victim and family,” Chelsea’s police chief said.
July 9, 2026 | 3:47 PM
2 minutes to read
Chelsea officials have seized and quarantined a dog that was caught on camera mauling a smaller pup Monday — a chaotic attack that left the second dog seriously injured.
“The injuries sustained by the [smaller] dog and the emotional impact on its owner are truly heartbreaking,” Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton said in a statement.
He offered little information about the dog attack, which happened Monday night on Chestnut Street. While the exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear, cellphone footage posted to social media appears to show both owners frantically struggling to separate the two dogs as the larger pet thrashes on the ground.
“We understand that people have strong emotions about this incident, and rightfully so,” Houghton acknowledged. “Many members of our department are dog owners themselves and recognize the pain and trauma experienced by the victim and family. I am asking the public to allow us to complete a fair, thorough, and impartial investigation before passing judgment based on social media posts.”
Both owners remained at the scene upon the officers’ arrival, Chelsea police noted on Facebook. According to Houghton, a preliminary investigation determined the larger dog was unlicensed. He said the dog has since been seized by Chelsea’s animal control officer and will remain in quarantine for 10 days, as required by state law.
“As the investigation continues, our Animal Control Officer is evaluating several potential violations of Massachusetts law and City ordinances and appropriate citations and enforcement actions will be initiated where supported by the evidence,” Houghton added.
But at this point, he noted, “the facts indicate this matter primarily involves violations of local ordinances and state animal control laws, including the City’s leash law, rather than criminal offenses.”
Houghton said Chelsea officials are also working to determine whether the available evidence supports initiating a so-called “dangerous dog hearing.” Under Massachusetts law, if a dog is deemed dangerous, the hearing authority may order the animal restrained, securely confined, muzzled, neutered or spayed, or even euthanized, among other possible outcomes.
According to Houghton, the Chelsea Police Department has also reviewed body-worn camera footage from the scene and determined that its officers “acted appropriately and within the scope of their authority.”
“We anticipate releasing the body-worn camera footage once the investigation is complete and doing so will not interfere with the integrity of the process,” he added.
A spokesperson for MSPCA-Angell said the organization’s veterinary hospital was unable to comment on the smaller dog’s condition, as it is not one of MSPCA-Angell’s shelter pets. However, WCVB reported that the injured dog — a service animal named Snoopy Snoop Dog — needs to have his leg amputated.
“He [Snoopy] has retired from serving me as my service dog,” owner Liza Henriquez told WCVB. “I feel like I’m going to be a prisoner in my own home. … My anxiety is through the roof now.”
Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.
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