Swampscott Owner Pushes for Change after Puppy Drowns in Riverhead Beach Drain

By Patch Reporter Brendan Lewis

A Swampscott man is asking the town of Marblehead to place a grate on, or fence, a drain pipe at a Marblehead beach after his puppy drowned this past weekend. 

On Saturday, Mike Reiter’s six-month-old lab Coco was sucked into a drain pipe  at Riverhead Beach, across the street from Devereux. 

“All of this could have been easily averted,” said Reiter.

Reiter said Coco was swimming in and around the area at Riverhead Beach on Saturday, playing with another dog in the water. He was watching the two dogs playing as they went underneath the water for a brief moment. 

But when the other dog came up and his did not, he went in after her. Reiter tried reaching in the nearby drain pipe for Coco but was nearly sucked in himself and worried that he would endanger himself if he went inside the submerged pipe.

“It’s just negligent to me,” said Reiter about the lack of any grate or fence to block the entrance of the storm drain.

Fire Department staff showed up shortly after and opened a manhole cover 50 feet away and found the body of Reiter’s dog.

Reiter spoke with the staff at the town’s Water and Drain Department on Monday.  The staff member said that there’s never been any problems at the drain before but stated that they would talk about the issue at an upcoming department meeting.

The town staff member he spoke with also said that there is a leash law in Marblehead and that swimming at the beach is prohibited. However, Reiter  said that the only signage in the area refers to cleaning up after your dog.

“There is nothing there that says do not swim,” said Reiter.

Reiter said he will be following up with the town in the coming weeks to find out whether they can place some type of barrier in front of the drain. He added that many small children also play in the area and could be at risk.