Woman arrested after dog walker brawl

WAYLAND, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A Framingham dog walker was arrested Wednesday after accusing another dog walker of stealing her customers and then attacking the dog walker.

At about 1 p.m. Maria Podolskaya, 23, was arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (foot) and assault and battery at the Loker Conservation Area off Rte. 30. She was also charged with violating a town bylaw for having more than three dogs on a leash.

The victim, Noreen Carson, 50, told police that she was walking a dog when Podolskaya accused her of stealing customers then punched her in the face, kicked her in the ribs, choked her and scratched her. She suffered injuries to her face and torso, according to police.

"She got me in a hold and she had her legs wrapped around my neck and was choking me and flipped me," Carson said.

She went on to say, “She just continued to punch me. I remember her kicking my leg saying 'you'll never walk a dog again.'"

The golden retriever Carson was with, Tucker, used to be Podolskaya’s responsibility through the company she works for Wags for Walks out of Waltham.

"Maria seen me with Tucker and asked if that was Tucker and I said ‘yes’ and she started screaming 'you're taking my customers, my clients,'" Carson said.

Carson worked for Wags for Walks before breaking her ankle on the job last year. She's no longer an employee, but was recently contacted by Tucker's owner about privately walking Tucker, which is what she was doing yesterday when the alleged attack occurred.

"The strength that little girl had in her was scary," Carson said.

Podolskaya’s is just five feet tall and 100 pounds.

No one answered the door at Podolskaya’s Framingham home Thursday, but she told police she was defending herself after Carson came after her.

"I have no problem with Maria," Carson said.

She went on to say that she didn’t provoke her in any way and did not hit her.

“I walked away, I said I'm not doing this, she's a kid," Carson explained.

FOX 25 reached out to the owner of Wags for Walks, but did not hear back.

Podolskaya was arraigned at Framingham District Court Thursday and was released on bail.

Cox Media Group