A Haverhill woman and her dogs had a rough walk through town Friday after a Groveland woman allegedly assaulted the walker and pepper sprayed one of her animals.
Groveland police Chief Jeffrey Gillen said his officers responded to Salem Street on Dec. 8 around 8 a.m. for a report of a physical altercation between two women. The 49-year-old victim said she was walking her dogs when another dog, said to be a pit bull, got loose and ran after her.
Fearing for her life, the Haverhill woman used pepper spray in an effort to subdue the dog. When that did not work, the pit bull’s owner, a 46-year-old Groveland woman, came out of her house to grab the dog.
As the Haverhill woman tried to walk away from the scene, the Groveland woman began shouting at her, police said. The Groveland woman then grabbed the victim, allegedly stole her pepper spray and sprayed it at the victim’s dog.
The Haverhill woman was also allegedly kicked in the leg during the altercation.
Police have charged the Groveland woman with larceny, cruelty to animals and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (shod foot and pepper spray). She was summonsed to Haverhill District Court. Since the woman’s 11-year-old son was present during the altercation, the Department of Children and Families was notified.