Man accused of beating dog during confrontation in Burlington

A morning walk around Mill Pond Reservoir in Burlington, Massachusetts, reportedly turned violent Tuesday morning.

Burlington police said a 69-year-old man was walking his dog on the trails, when two other dogs allegedly began fighting his dog. Their apparent owner was reportedly riding a black mountain bike nearby.

He is accused of then violently attacking the older man's dog, Gigi, beating her so severely she ended up with serious injuries.

“Gigi’s my dad’s right hand girl. She’s everything to him," said John Romano Jr., the man's son.

He said his father was walking Gigi around 9 o’clock Tuesday when she and two other dogs allegedly started fighting.

The beagle mix got into his dog’s face the beagle became aggressive at which point his dog defended itself and I believe they both snapped at each other," said Burlington Police Chief Thomas Browne.

The owner of a beagle mix and another dog was riding a black mountain bike and didn’t have them on a leash, according to police.

“The gentleman on the bicycle threw the bicycle down tried to get at my dad’s dog and just beat her with his fists horribly like horribly," Romano said.

The 8-year-old rescue has a broken jaw, nose and is missing some of her teeth. She was taken to the Burlington Animal Clinic, where she had emergency facial reconstructive surgery.  

Police are still looking for the man who was biking around Mill Pond Reservoir. Although initial reports said the man attacked Romano's dad, he says his father fell over.

“Dad has no bruises dad’s not injured physically but emotionally this would tear anybody up," Romano said.

The area is a popular spot for dog walkers.

"I come here every day. I've been doing it for 10 years and it's a real bummer," said Samara Kranz, while walking her dog.

"There's a small community of dogs that comes that comes here, so you practically know each other, almost everyone, so I can guess who could be fighting but I don't know," said Leon Muratov, who also walks his dog at the reservoir daily.

"The guy on the bike and two dogs it's almost definitely a person that I'm aware of, who was the second guy I have no idea," said Muratov.

Police said they're looking to speak with the owner of the two dogs in person, to make sure they're OK and to get his side of what happened on these trails.

"I think at this point, they won't. If they haven't already, they won't. Hopefully, they won't come back," said Kranz.

Anyone with information or video of the alleged attack should call the Burlington Police Department at 781-272-1212.