GORHAM – A 6-year-old female pit bull named Roxy, banished from a Massachusetts town last month, won’t live in exile in Gorham, as ordered by a court.

“Roxy is dead,” said Gorham Police Chief Ronald Shepard.

It is unclear when life ended for Roxy, who lost a reprieve to live out her days in Gorham.

Police in Gorham learned that authorities in Milford, Mass., destroyed Roxy, who had been accused of attacking other animals, as recently as May 14. Milford selectmen on June 4 had ordered Roxy humanely disposed, but Roxy’s owners appealed the case.

A Milford District Court decision June 25 spared Roxy’s life with the provision that a new owner, Rachelle O’Handley, would take Roxy “immediately” to her residence at 772 Gray Road in Gorham.

But, Gorham police could not locate the woman or Roxy at that address in a residential area in Little Falls Village. Shepard said last week she didn’t live there now, though she did reside there about a year ago. Gorham police believe Roxy never made it to Gorham.

The June 25 court order read, “Under no circumstances shall the pit bull terrier Roxy be returned, either temporarily or permanently to the town of Milford. In the event said dog is returned to the town of Milford said dog may be immediately seized by the Milford Animal Control Department and disposed of forthwith in an otherwise humane manner without further notice or hearing.”

Shepard said authorities in Milford found Roxy.

“They took the dog and had it euthanized,” Shepard said.

The animal control officer in Milford and the town manager didn’t respond to requests for comments this week. Roxy’s former owner in Milford and O’Handley also couldn’t be reached.

Roxy the dog (Courtesy photo)
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