Luna to Live; Banished from Tolland

A civil court judge has withdrawn a on Luna the Siberian husky and barred her from ever entering Tolland again in her lifetime.

By court order, the 5-year-old dog was released to Lexus Project Atty. Richard Rosenthal, who will pick her up today at the Tolland dog pound and take her to the Massachusetts shelter property the Double Dog Rescue group, a Connecticut-based organization that tries to rescue dogs in pounds that are days away from being euthanized.

“We’re just happy that Luna’s out,” Atty. Alexandrea Isaac said. The agreement was reached privately between Isaac, Rosenthal and Tolland’s town attorney, Richard Conti, before being issued as an order by the judge in Rockville.

Rosenthal said that he hopes that Luna will be able to find a permanent home outside of the shelter.

Public Safety Supervisor John Littell said he was pleased that the situation has been settled.

“We’re glad it’s resolved. Unfortunately, the commissioner’s office wasn’t fast enough to get back to us,” he said, referring to Luna’s original appeal hearing with the state Department of Agriculture.

About 20 supporters showed up to the hearing Thursday morning at the civil court in Rockville, bearing signs and frustration.

“I think the town is trying to find someone to blame,” Ellington resident Lindsay Caron said. “The owner is the one that should be blamed for it.”

Windsor Locks resident Andrea Morrell said that she didn’t understand why the situation escalated so quickly.

“There are so many options,” she said, “and I don’t see why they want to put her down.”

The mood was jubilant after the hearing as supporters reveled in Luna’s freedom.

“I’m ecstatic,” Morrell said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

The order also holds the town harmless from any future cases as a result of damages caused to persons or property by Luna.

Luna was brought to court after being put under a disposal order for  in June. Luna was known to wander and had previously killed a domestic duck and harassed several domestic goats.

Her owner, Paul Doyle, said it was difficult to keep the husky in a pen. Doyle appealed the order saying he did not want her put down.