Owner Pushes for Change after Puppy Drowns in Drain Pipe at Riverhead Beach

A Swampscott man is asking to the town to consider placing a grate or fence on a drain pipe at a Marblehead beach after a tragedy involving his puppy this past weekend. 

On Saturday, Mike Reiter’s six-month-old lab Coco drowned at Riverhead Beach, across the street from Devereux, when it was sucked into a drain pipe. He’s now trying to get the town to consider taking action to guard the pipe so this will never happen again.

“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 immediately tried going in after her. Reiter tried reaching in the nearby drain pipe for Coco but was nearly sucked in himself and worried if he would be putting himself in danger if he went inside the completely 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 Sewer 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 in 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. 

UPDATE: A witness to the incident has written a letter to the Board of Selectmen urging action about putting a grate on the drain.