UNHEALTHY AND UNSANITARY TRAITS OF THE PATIENT

This is Number 19 in a series of articles written by Frank S. P. Yacino regarding Alzheimer’s disease. He is the husband and caregiver for his wife Barbara who has been struggling with this disease for over fifteen years.

One of Barbara’s unhealthy and unsanitary habits that she developed about mid-stage of this disease was to touch her feces when she was still able to go to the bathroom alone. I would see signs of this on the shower curtain and the walls. She would do it at night in bed and wipe her hands on the sheets and side of the mattress, which I wouldn’t see until   the morning. If she were lying on the couch during the day and evening she’d wipe her hand on the back of the couch or side. I used to put towels there to protect the furniture. She was so fast in doing this that it was almost impossible to catch her in the act. It seemed that when I would leave the area she’d get the urge to put her hand down her pants and wipe the feces wherever she was.

This went on for some time and it finally became necessary to start using pampers and I started to toilet her each time she had the need to go to the bathroom. Even at that she would try to touch the feces in her pamper as I would pull it down. I can recall one day when she actually put her fingers in her mouth with feces on them when I turned to get something out of the closet. In a split second it was done and I attempted to get as much out as I could with a tissue. From that time on I was very diligent in watching what she would do when I toileted her. This situation was one of the many phases that a patient may go through. I have heard from other caregivers that their patients have had the same issue that Barbara had, but they do get out of the phase at some point in time. Recall my statements in earlier articles that all patients are not exactly the same, so what may happen to some may not happen to others. Many stories are told at out Support Meetings of the caregiver’s experiences that are similar to the situation someone else may have.

Another unhealthy trait that is difficult for us to deal with is that of brushing Barbara’s teeth. When the toothbrush is placed in Barbara’s mouth she has a tendency to want to bite down on it and of course this becomes a problem brushing with her mouth closed. Barbara has not been to a dentist since 2004 and her not being able to speak to alert us to any issues with her teeth makes it important that we at least try to brush them once a day. For a period of time after being diagnosed she was still able to take care of her brushing. I had purchased a battery powered brush and she enjoyed the vibration and noise it made. When she stopped using the brush she’d let me do it for her and that lasted a few months. I also used to be able to floss her teeth at night, mid-2008, with the little plastic floss picks while she was lying on the couch and then that stopped because she’d bite down on the plastic.

So, the challenge was before us-----how can we brush her teeth. If you have been a follower of these articles you may remember me mentioning an item that we discovered, while attending a Support Group meeting in the third paragraph of Article 3, and that was a Chewy Tube. Barbara would always bite on a pencil or a pen when doing her word-find puzzles, a habit that is called Oral Fixation. So we purchased these Chewy tubes for her to bite on like a baby would do with a pacifier. Well now we are using it each day to help in brushing Barbara’s teeth. The Chewy Tube has a hole in one end that will fit over a pen and we put that into her mouth the same time we put the toothbrush in. As Barbara chomps down on the pen we have enough room to move the brush around in her mouth to do the best we can with the brushing. It’s probably not the best of hygienic methods but at least we are getting toothpaste on her teeth and trying to get what food is there off the teeth.

Barbara has all of her natural teeth so of course the issues we are describing here certainly would not apply to someone who has dentures.

A trait that Barbara had that was certainly unsanitary by normal standards was to go into restrooms when we were traveling and go through the trash bin. The first time that I noticed this, as she was still able to toilet herself at this time, was when we were going to Maine and had stopped at the Chelmsford rest stop on Route 495. When she came out of the restroom she had a magazine, which I don’t know where she got, and it was stuffed with some unknown material. She sort of hid it under the seat and when we got to Kittery I decided to park the car as far away from the Trading Post as possible. Barbara liked to walk so when we got out of the car I suggested that she take a little walk and I’d catch up with her. With her back toward me, I went to look at what she had put under the seat. What I found wrapped up in the magazine were seven tampon holders. I had a pair of gloves in the car so I carefully removed the contents of the magazine and disposed of the items, along with the magazine, never to be seen again. When I caught up with Barbara I didn’t say a thing about what I had found or done with them. When we got back to the car she looked under the seat but never said a word about the magazine not being there. I lucked out on that experience without a confrontation.

So from that time on, whenever we would travel and Barbara had to use the restroom I would ask someone to keep an eye on her in the restroom and I explained why. We were at an Olive Garden restaurant in Manchester, Conn., one day and Barbara wanted to go to the restroom before we left. I asked the hostess if she would go in with Barbara and again explained why and when I did she said, ”I’d be glad to do that and I’ll bring in a clean trash bag and remove the old one before she gets to it. My grandmother was like that.” No matter where we traveled and I’d ask someone to help me no one ever refused and several of them knew what was going on because one of their family members was also afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

Barbara also liked to pick trash up off the ground, including gum. This was very unsanitary to say the least. Other items were stones, elastic bands for pony tails, any kind of trash, paper clips, washers, pins, jewelry, pieces of glass, etc. I still have some of that trash in a jar at home.

Barbara had no control over these idiosyncrasies; this disease was tormenting her and making her do things that she never did before.

(The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets every second Monday of the month from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., at the Accord Adult Daycare Center, 10 Cudworth Road, Webster.) 

by Barbara Van Reed

WEBSTER – Ed Kinsley has successfully made Webster a destination for family entertainment with the newly renovated Mohegan Bowl and All Star Pub. "We can see where people are coming from when they search for directions, and they are coming from towns all around, many from Worcester."

"The place desperately needed a facelift," said Ed. He basically gutted the old Mohegan Bowladrome and Lic’s Restaurant on Thompson Road, and a million dollars later, literally, has transformed it into a spectacular family entertainment center.

Even the Crayola colors paint scheme, inside and out, gives the place a fun, upbeat appearance.

by Steev Riccardo

Hello Rock Fans! There is long list of great rock bands that fall into the under-appreciated and practically-forgotten category and this week we recognize a band that is near the top of that list.

England’s Roxy Music was a highly influential band that was not only miles ahead of everyone musically but visually as well. When they came on the scene in the early seventies, they were part of a blossoming glam movement that included the likes of David Bowie, T Rex, and The Sweet.

These were artists who played rock but pushed the androgynous button and dressed flashier than most.

By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

With the warmer weather coming soon (hopefully), many people will be using the roadways for a variety of activities.  When pedestrians, cars, and bicycles share the road, accidents can result if safety rules are not followed.  One question I receive quite often pertains to people walking side by side while vehicles are approaching.  Many people do not move to a “single file” arrangement during this time.  This can be very dangerous.  I was asked to warn people of this practice and remind them of the rules for pedestrian’s use of the roadways.

The rules for use of streets are contained in both state laws and local regulations.  If sidewalks are in place on a particular street, they should be used.  If there are no sidewalks, people should walk along the shoulder of the roadway facing into traffic.  You will most likely see a vehicle heading toward you if walking in this fashion.  Unless the shoulders of the road are particularly wide, there is little to no room for people to walk side by side without one person being on the roadway.  The accident possibilities increase, especially when solar glare, inclement weather, darkness, or other factors reduce a driver’s visibility.  All precautions should be taken to stay off the roadway whenever possible.  When you wish to cross the road, do this at crosswalks when they are available.  If there are no crosswalks, pedestrians should yield the right of way to vehicles before crossing and avoid "jumping out" into traffic.  The excuse of “pedestrians have the right of way” is used often to explain why people walk side by side in roadways or dart across a road in front of vehicles.  This is never the correct way to think when it comes to pedestrian vs. vehicle situations. 

Many side streets, dead ends, or other lightly traveled locations may have people using a more relaxed approach to these rules.  Do not ignore the basic safety rules of looking both ways and always pay attention to the possibility of cars.  Vehicles may come from anywhere, so it is always important to treat these locations with the proper amount of caution.  Sharing the road and respecting each others use of it will limit accidents and injuries.  

On Saturday, April 27^th, the Dudley Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will conduct another prescription drug “Take Back” event.  The public has the opportunity to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  The service is free and anonymous.  During our previous events, large quantities of prescription medications were taken in.  Plans are also underway to have representatives of Harrington Hospital on hand that day to provide medical information and screenings to the public.  A needle drop box is also planned to be available for those who need to safely dispose of these items.  More information will be available in the near future.  Several communities in our area will also be participating in this event.  If you are not from Dudley, check for a participating location near you.  I encourage everyone to mark their calendars and take advantage of this opportunity.

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.  

Q: Blogs seem to be very popular these days.  How do I set one up? Is it easy to do and maintain? ………….Nuts Over Balls

Q:  Is there an easy way to get your columns sent to me so I don’t miss any?  Also I would like to share them with my relatives on the west coast since they don’t get the Patriot……. Want to Keep Up

A:  Thanks so much for asking.  As you probably know the Patriot is available in its entirety on line at www.patriotnewspaper.com and Ask Madalyn is archived there.

Ask Madalyn also has a blog you can subscribe to and get your columns as soon as they are produced. 

“Blog” is an abbreviated version of weblog, which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information. If you’ve ever done a web search for something you have undoubtedly seen some and clicked on them looking for information.

Most blogs have a particular focus or topic, such as hobbies, pets, politics, sports, mobile technology, how to's.  Some are more eclectic and cover a wider range of subjects.  Most of these have links attached so you can do further research.  Others have a much more personal purpose and are more like journals, families keeping up with each other, groups updating their activities.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

By Cheryl Rosen

WEBSTER, Massachusetts (March 6, 2013) — The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley welcomed Ed King from RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a 3-day leadership workshop for high school sophomores from throughout central and eastern Massachusetts.

Rotary District 7910 (which Webster-Dudley is part of) is holding its 21st RYLA weekend.  It is held annually at the end of June (all day Friday-Sunday, June 28-30 this year) at Worcester State University.  On average, yearly, 155 students from 45 Rotary clubs, who have just completed their sophomore year of high school, participate in the program. 

Some of those who completed the leadership weekend the previous year go on to be Group Facilitators after their junior year, while between 3-5 of them continue as Program Facilitators after they graduate.  There are even some who keep on coming back to volunteer for many years afterwards. Kosta Karamanakis, from Shephard Hill Regional High School, who the Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley sent to RYLA two years ago, is a Program Facilitator this year.  He and all the other facilitators are taking training sessions this spring to prepare for the event.

Ed provided the Rotary Club with a rundown of the weekend's events and described the activities.  A Reality Fair is held to teach students about daily life as an adult with careers/jobs, family, financial surprises - everything they think they already know, but don't. 

There is a Rotary Expo to see different things that not only Rotary is involved in, but possibilities for themselves such as youth exchange, Interact (Rotary for ages 12-18), Rotaract (for ages 18-30), College Scholarships (to study abroad), and Rotary club projects.  One exhibit is Shelterbox, a 10-person tent that the students can walk through, that is used in natural disasters around the world.  It fits in a carrying bin with enough supplies for a family of 10 to use for up to six months or longer (cooking utensils, blankets, stove, water purification kit, tools and even a coloring book and crayons).

Many students arrive shy, never being away from home before.  It doesn't take long before they start to open up, meet new friends, and are the first to make it to the top of the rock wall - yes, there is even a rock wall to climb.  For students not too sure about taking the climb, all you need is a group of vocal teenagers to encourage you to make it all the way to the top!

The individual groups are assigned different tasks during the weekend.  Assignments are given to the students by their group facilitator (each group has 6-7 students).  They also do journaling in their binder.  Although many Rotary clubs send more than one student, and they may know each other, they will not be in the same group or dorm.

There is also social time each evening which usually includes indoor dodge ball, music with a DJ and dancing.  At the end of the weekend, everyone gets dresses up and participates in an event for the parents. 

Most of the volunteers throughout the weekend are Rotarians who either "observe" (actively assist), run the sessions or chaperone the overnights.  Training for those who run the sessions are also done in advance.  The cost for the leadership weekend is paid for each student by the individual Rotary club who sponsors them.  Ed highly recommends that the clubs interview their own candidates and invite them back to the club to speak about their experience.

Please contact the Rotary club if you would like more information on RYLA, on how to sponsor a future student or would like to attend a meeting when one of our students is a speaker at our club.

Mark your calendar for some upcoming speakers and events of the Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley.  Jean Walker, who is already working on her third book on fairies, will be speaking on April 3rd.  The Rotary club will be sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive on April 16th from 1:00 - 6:00 pm at Point Breeze.  Please schedule your appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org.  You can also call 800-REDCROSS.  Appointments are preferred, walk-ins welcome.  For more information, go to the Red Cross Blood Drive event page on Facebook.

The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley meets weekly on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:15 pm at Point Breeze Restaurant in Webster.  Meetings are free, open to the general public - and highly encouraged!  Check us out online at www.websterdudleyrotary.org or "LIKE US" on our Facebook page at: websterdudleyrotary. For more information regarding being a speaker, membership, or our upcoming projects, contact club PR chair Cheryl Rosen at (508) 791-9283 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio.

For photos, video or more information about Rotary International please visit: www.rotary.org.
 

March 3rd marked 100 years since the suffragists marched on Washington to give women the right to vote, a struggle lasting more than a 100 years. In 1981 Congress created the first week in March Women’s History Week and in 1987 it was expanded to Women’s History Month.  I have some mixed feelings on whether we should even have to have a month dedicated to something so obvious, but since history hasn’t traditionally  been very kind to the memory of women and their roles in the past, perhaps it makes up for it a little by specifically calling our attention to it.

The theme for this year’s  celebration is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.”  With that in mind let’s take a look at some of the things women have invented to make life a little easier.

The Circular Saw – in the late 18th century a Massachusetts Shaker community member Tabitha Babbitt saw a way to improve the way wood was being sawed.  She noticed that the two person saws used at the time were wasting energy each time it was pulled back, only the forward motion actually cut the wood.  She created a prototype of the circular saw, attached it to her spinning wheel and every motion of the saw produced results.  It soon became widely used in the saw mills.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie – Ruth Wakefield had worked as a dietician and food lecturer before buying an old toll house outside of Boston.  Traditionally, toll houses were places weary travelers paid their tolls, grabbed a quick bite and fed their horses.  Wakefield converted the toll house into an inn and restaurant.  One day in 1930, Wakefield was baking up a batch of Butter Drop Do cookies for her guests.  The recipe called for melted chocolate, but Wakefield had run out of baker’s chocolate.  She took a Nestles chocolate bar, crumbled it into pieces and threw it into the batter expecting it to melt during the baking process.  It held its shape and thus the chocolate chip cookie was born.    Nestles noticed that sales of its chocolate bars were jumping in Mrs. Wakefield’s corner of Massachusetts so they met with her about the cookie, which was fast gaining popularity in the area.  And then the rest is herstory as the saying goes.  Mrs. Wakefield got free chocolate for life and they have  printed her recipe on every bag of semi-sweet chocolate morsels ever since.

The COBOL Computer Language and Compiler -  “ When we think about advancements in computers, we tend to think about men like Charles Babbage, Alan Turing and Bill Gates. But Admiral Grace Murray Hopper deserves credit for her role in the computer industry. Admiral Hopper joined the military in 1943 and was stationed at Harvard University, where she worked on IBM's Harvard Mark I computer, the first large-scale computer in the United States. She was the third person to program this computer, and she wrote a manual of operations that lit the path for those that followed her. In the 1950s, Admiral Hopper invented the compiler, which translates English commands into computer code. This device meant that programmers could create code more easily and with fewer errors. Hopper's second compiler, the Flow-Matic, was used to program UNIVAC I and II, which were the first computers available commercially. Admiral Hopper also oversaw the development of the Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL), one of the first computer programming languages. Admiral Hopper received numerous awards for her work, including the honor of having a U.S. warship named after her.” ….How Stuff Works.

The Square-bottomed Paper Bag – Margaret Knight didn’t invent paper bags, but she did improve their design, such that they had a flat bottom and could hold much more than the previously designed envelope style of bag. In 1870 she created a machine that would cut, fold and glue the square bottoms to the paper bags.  Knight had to fight for the patent rights to her machine since Charles Anan stole her designs and tried to patent it before her.  She won the battle since she could show all the paperwork and prototypes and was awarded one of more than 20 patents she obtained for her inventions.

The Dishwasher – Invented by Josephine Cochrane who was tired of having her staff break her heirloom dishes.

Windshield Wipers – In 1903 Mary Anderson went on a car trip to New York in a snow storm.  Upon her return home she invented and then patented her invention of a squeegee on a stick to clear the snow and dirt off the windshield.  Within 10 years her invention was on every car built.

Kevlar – Stephanie Kwolek took a temporary position at DuPont in 1946 to save enough money to go to medical school.  She was still there in 1964 when she finished her final designs on a strong resilient polymer which is used in many things, including bulletproof vests.  So even though she didn’t make it to med school she still saves lives every day.

Just a few of the things women have invented.  Enjoy.

This is Number 18 in a series of articles written by Frank S. P. Yacino regarding Alzheimer’s disease. He is the husband and caregiver for his wife Barbara who has been struggling with this disease for over fifteen years.

Even though the patient has Alzheimer’s we as caregivers cannot neglect their diet and food intake. Proper nutrition can help to prevent other medical and health issues. In this article we shall discuss how we have tried to keep Barbara healthy from a nutrition point of view.

Prior to Barbara becoming caught up in this disease we used to eat out frequently. Barbara enjoyed seafood such as lobsters, fried clams, French fries, fried onion rings, fish and chips, fried calamari, and many kinds of fish cooked in different ways, be they fried, broiled, or baked. Much of this was restaurant food and generally salty, greasy, and not always cooked with good health in mind. In November of 2002 I required prostate surgery and I weighed two hundred and two pounds. This was about the time that Barbara started to show strong signs of her dementia, so-called at that time, and she weighed about one hundred forty pounds. Her married weight in 1957 was one hundred eight pounds and mine was one hundred fifty-five pounds. The bright light went off in my head saying this is crazy for both of us so I decided it was time to stop going out to eat during the week and on weekends and start cooking at home. We stopped all fried and greasy foods completely. Over the period of the next couple of years I lost forty-two pounds and Barbara lost twenty pounds. I believe that the bulk of that weight we lost was from the fried foods. Barbara starting walking at the walk path at Memorial Beach in Webster and I began riding a stationary bike at home each day for four miles, which I’m sure also helped.

We stopped eating all beef products and turned more to chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and ham occasionally for the holidays. Primarily we have meatloaf, stuffed peppers, shepherds pie, spaghetti and meatballs, fish, scallops, and soups made at home from chicken or turkey bones. All of the ground meat is turkey burger which is 93/7 for fat content, for any of the main dishes. We also on occasion have buffalo meat in the form of a roast, stew meat, or burgers. The meat is lean and has less fat content. Fish can be a variety of salmon, halibut, fluke, striper, cod, or flounder. The meals are prepared either on the stove-top, in the oven, microwave, or crock pot. Side dishes consist of vegetables such as carrots, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, potatoes, rice, or squash.

I try to buy as many of the vegetables, if canned, with no added salt. I do not use any salt in any of the cooking I do at the house nor do we salt any of the food we eat. It’s my opinion that there is enough natural salt in all the other products that we eat.

When I cook anything requiring oil, which is not too frequent, I use the Smart Balance brand. I also use that brand of light butter, peanut butter, mayonnaise, and spray oil. For cheese I use the Smart Beat brand which is fat, cholesterol, and lactose free. I continually watch for fat free and low cholesterol products. When I buy Town House crackers, Wheat Thins, or Triscuits for myself, and Barbara her Vienna Fingers, they are all reduced-fat. I also purchase reduced-fat grated cheese for use on spaghetti or other foods.

With all of the above said, two of Barbara’s meals are the same every day. She used to eat this way prior to her disease and I’ve just kept the same schedule that she had. Her breakfast consists of a cup of Cheerios with Lactose milk, a cup of tea, and a half cup of cranberry juice. Prior to Barbara waking up I put milk into the bowl of Cheerios to soften the cereal for her. She is able to chew it easier in this manner. The juice is used as an aid to help as a preventative for a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection).

Her lunch consists of two graham crackers with marshmallow and peanut butter pre-mixed with applesauce. The applesauce is to give the peanut butter a looser consistency. She then has one Vienna Fingers cookie. I break up the graham crackers into small pieces and Barbara takes two or three bites out of that piece. This way she is able to chew it slowly and not gag. After each small piece, which is about an inch square, I give Barbara some milk to help “wash it down.” In this manner she will consume one or two glasses of her Lactose milk.

The dinner meal, which we both share, can consist of any of the items I mention six paragraphs above. The dinner meal for Barbara has been blended since May of 2009. In the early stages of Barbara’s disease I used to cut her meats and other food up into small pieces, but it got to a point where she would chew her food into a round ball and pocket it into her left cheek. I had a fear that if she swallowed that ball of food it would choke her. No matter what the main meal is, it goes into the blender with the vegetables or other side dish that is prepared, and I also add a slice of wheat bread as well. I use water as a liquid for ease in blending all of the food to a pasty consistency. I feed Barbara about a half teaspoon at a time and each meal takes about forty minutes to feed her. She has a glass or two of the Lactose milk and usually a half cup of yogurt, which is another aid to help counteract a UTI, or I give her some other after dinner foods such as jell-o, chocolate pudding, peaches, angel cake in a bowl with milk to make it soft, or a little applesauce.

Prior to going to bed each night Barbara has a half cup of a smoothie which I make for her. It may consist of apples, pears, peaches, plums, bananas, grapes, melons, strawberries, blueberries, or yogurt. For a liquid I use cranberry juice or orange juice. All of the ingredients are very healthy for Barbara. The smoothie also helps to keep Barbara’s digestive system working properly so that she does not get constipated. In her state of mind now and not being able to speak, she cannot tell me if she’s constipated and ask for a laxative to help move her bowels. The process that I am using now takes care of this issue.

Protein is an important factor for the patient’s well-being. For a 2000 calorie diet one should have about 50 to 60 grams of protein per day. Other vitamins are essential and the patient or caregiver should consult with the doctor for the needs of each individual.

(The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets every second Monday of the month from 6:15 p.m. To 7:45 p.m., at the Accord Adult Daycare Center, 10 Cudworth Road, Webster.) 

by Michelle Lafleche
Webster Animal Control Officer

Recently, there have been two public hearings in Webster regarding to two different dog bite incidences.  One was requested due to the fact that the dog had a prior bite history.

The other was a first time bite incident and the hearing was requested by the bite victim.

Just like the age old question, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” it is often questioned how many bites does it take to deem a dog vicious or dangerous?

By Chief Steven J. Wojna
Dudley Police Department

Recently, I was contacted by a local member of the 4H Club advising me of an important subject.  When the weather improves, horses and other livestock will be walked or ridden along the roads.  These animals may also get loose from time to time.  With active 4H members in our area, there is a greater chance of drivers encountering these animals along the roads.  Since some drivers may not have experienced this situation before, it is important for everyone to be aware of the rules they must observe when approaching livestock.  I wanted to take this opportunity to provide the readers with some information.

 Due to Dudley’s rural nature, horses, cows, and other livestock are kept in various parts of town.  These animals can be found on the road from time to time.  Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 14 provides the guide for drivers to observe when encountering these animals.  It states in part, “Every person operating a motor vehicle shall bring the vehicle and the motor propelling it immediately to a stop when approaching a cow, horse or other draft animal being led, ridden or driven, if such animal appears to be frightened and if the person in charge thereof shall signal so to do; and, if traveling in the opposite direction to that in which such animal is proceeding, said vehicle shall remain stationary so long as may be reasonable to allow such animal to pass; or, if traveling in the same direction, the person operating shall use reasonable caution in thereafter passing such animal.”  Drivers are required to stop and/or shut off their motor if the animal appears frightened.  It may also be necessary to stop and allow the animal to pass by your location in order to insure the move is done safely.  Passing must also be performed with “reasonable caution.”  The Penalty for violating this section is a civil traffic fine. 

These animals can be out on the roads either on purpose or by wandering out on their own. It is important to note, similar to pedestrians; these animals have been around much longer than motor vehicles.  Therefore, the laws will favor the animal and the people in charge of them in most cases when it comes to an accident.  Encounters of this nature can be rare and often unexpected.  Please do our local 4H members and others a favor by exercising caution in these circumstances to avoid serious accidents and injuries.   

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.