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Winchester Police Take Bullmastiff Suspected Of Killing Puppy

WINCHESTER (CBS) – Winchester police say they now have an adult Bullmastiff dog in quarantine after its owner refused to surrender him following a deadly attack on a puppy.

The dog, named Hercules, was unleashed Sunday when Dafna Leonard said it lunged at her four-month old Cockapoo named Chase and wrestled him to the ground.

"From there it was horrible," Leonard told WBZ-TV earlier this week. "He slammed him on the ground, multiple times and shook him and was biting him."

Cockapoo
Chase the cockapoo puppy. (Photo credit Leonard family)

Leonard took her wounded dog to an animal hospital in Woburn, where it died.

Winchester police said Hercules' owner took him to New Hampshire after officers began an investigation into the attack.

They tracked the dog down and took him into custody Wednesday evening.

"The animal will be held for a legally-required 10 day quarantine. The Winchester Board of Selectmen has tasked Chief Albertelli with holding a dangerousness hearing to determine if the Bullmastiff presents a danger to the community. Until this process is completed, this dog will remain in the care of the Winchester police department," police said in a statement Thursday.

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