Norwood Dog Pound Dispute Sparks Videotape Feud-July 19, 1990

The feud centered on the town pound, which had been operating on Frank Rodak’s 5-acre “gentleman’s farm” since 1984.

Kathleen McGarry, who resided next door to the Rodaks with her husband Robert, a Boston police detective, first noticed the issue in March when she learned that Rodak was running the town kennel on his property. The McGarrys had moved into their home on Union Street in 1982, and initially, the neighborhood was peaceful. However, as time passed, tensions arose due to the presence of the dog pound.

Robert McGarry argued that a pound is a nuisance and even endangers his physically disabled son, Christopher, who cannot defend himself against loose dogs. Approximately 70 of their neighbors agreed with this sentiment and signed a petition against the pound. The McGarrys eventually won a court order in July forcing the town to move the pound out of their neighborhood.

However, Rodak, a 65-year-old dog officer, refused to accept defeat. He claimed that his professional reputation was on the line and that battling the McGarrys had made him “feel young again.” As a show of support for Rodak, the selectmen voted 3-1 to appeal the court decision.

The McGarrys took matters into their own hands by unveiling their collection of home videotapes documenting what they called months of “harassment” by Rodak. They claimed that Rodak had been trying to make life miserable in retaliation for their complaints about the pound. The tapes showed Rodak making objectionable gestures toward the camera, dropping large metal ramps on the ground, idling his tractor engine, and honking his truck horn.

Rodak declined to comment on the gestures, stating only that he was doing arm exercises and giving McGarry a “Canadian salute.” He claimed that he had a right to do what he wanted on his own property. Rodak also admitted to grabbing his own video camera several times to tape the McGarrys but stated that the batteries in his camera were dead.

The dispute between the McGarrys and Rodaks was not limited to verbal exchanges. Robert McGarry filed complaints against Rodak with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, while Rodak claimed to have complained about McGarry to Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn.

As the feud escalated, it became clear that neither side was willing to back down. Rodak declared that he would take his case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, stating, “I’ll go to the Supreme Court if I have to… I don’t care. I’m a fighter, and this makes me feel young again. I’m not going to retreat now.”

The Norwood dog pound dispute had become a contentious issue, with both sides dug in and refusing to compromise. The outcome of this feud would ultimately depend on the courts and the willingness of the parties involved to find a resolution.