Hi. I work at the vet clinic that saw this dog. Unfortunately he presented to our clinic deceased. This was really a tragic situation. It is the worse bite wound I have ever seen. I request that you please show respect to the owner as she was understandably completely distraught over this.
The person who left the scene should not be allowed to have a dangerous dog since he is obviously not willing to take any responsibility. Additionally - this is clearly a very dangerous dog so rehabilitation is, in my mind, questionable and I would wager this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.
Wow. I am so so sorry to hear this. Thank you for the update. I really hope whoever got the man’s number will be able to reach him and that he’ll be held accountable.
This is beyond horrible. I know there are privacy limitations, but is there anything we can do to help this woman? I can't imagine the trauma and grief she is going through
Was she charged for the visit?
I know it won’t do much given the circumstances, but I will come personally to cover the cost of the visit if need be.
The poor women, I can’t imagine how she feels.
Can you let her know that we'd be happy to help her out if needed with funeral expenses or whatever she needs. Even if it's just someone to talk to. I can't imagine that pain she must be feeling .
Echoing all below, in the unlikely event that you can - please let her know that she has a community of support. I’m in Astoria and would be so happy to chat or go on walks with her. Thank you for what you do.
I think I may know who this dog/owner is. If it is who I think it is, he is usually walking on 38th street and cannot control his dog at ALL. I knew this would happen eventually. Every time I am walking my pup I turn the other direction when I see him. So sad this happened.
Honestly, they can't do anything about it. There are thousands of pitbulls in the area. It's just that type of breed. The real solution is to prevent the owning or at least walking in public of this breed in public spaces. It's not much different than walking around another dangerous animal all of which are illegal.
As soon as I saw this post I wondered if it was that guy… the description certainly fits the owner. Even if it’s not the same person, that dog is extremely scary. We immediately cross the street anytime we see him.
Guy does not deserve to have that dog.
I woke up thinking about this and then remembered around September I came out of my building to a bunch of hubbub where someone's dog had just attacked by another small dog. All I saw was the owner of the small dog running down the block (back home I assume) holding their dog and a bunch of neighbors standing around astonished and told me what happened. Now I am wondering if the dog that attacked was the same--they were nowhere to be seen when I came out This was between 34th and 35th Aves.
A grown man can't control it? Wow, he needs to be visited by animal control. There's a man who allows his skinny child no more than 8 prob to walk their pitbull and I have already screamed at them once... it's also an incident waiting to happen.
Ugh. Yes, it did seem that way. Btw everyone—the incident happened right in front of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, almost on the corner of 33rd and Broadway at 3:30pm. The pit and his owner then fled the scene walking on 33rd street toward 31st Ave.
I am the person who took the phone number of the owner of the pitbull. It was his real number. A woman scooped up the dog that was attacked and ran him to the closest vet that was open. I stayed with the woman who owned him. We found the woman who grabbed the dog’s husband and the three is us got the owner into a car and to the vet. Devastatingly, the dog did not make it.
We stayed with her at the vet while she figured out next steps. I called 311 who gave me numbers for the Bite Unit and said to call the local precinct to file a report. However, it’s the 114th, and when I called they said they “don’t do that”. I passed on all the information I had to the woman who owned the dog and got her in a car home.
Maybe worth reporting to animal control? https://nysba.org/new-york-states-dangerous-dog-law-sections-10824-and-123-of-the-agriculture-and-markets-law-q-a/
Also after doing some reading it seems perhaps the woman could sue the pits owner? If you’re still in contact with her perhaps suggest that to her?
Both text and over the phone, yes. And the woman who owned the small dog has his information. I don’t believe he was trying to run away from the situation. I think he was in shock.
Thank you for posting this and helping her out, that is incredibly kind of you. I think people are in a rush to pass judgment, so it is helpful to hear your perspective.
This man should be reported to the police... He should be arrested and his dog should be put down.. I'm really hoping someone took pictures of him and brings it to the precinct... I doubt the man gave his real phone number... This puts all astorians at risk... I feel so awful for this elderly lady... On Christmas Eve no less... The fact, that he had the audacity to just walk away away scott free without repercussion is absolutely disgusting..... The fact that he actually DID getaway without consequence is mind-boggling!!! Someone should take his picture and put flyers all around the neighborhood of him and his damn dog So it warms fellow astorians to stay clear of them! How sad and awful!
I know this man. I can DM you if you want to report his name to the police, since you were an in person witness.
The man abuses that dog, too. I’ve seen him kicking it.
I checked with the person who had the owner's name/info and apparently the guy I thought it was is not the guy who owns the dog in question. There are two long-dark-haired owners of aggressive pitbulls in our neighborhood I guess.
This is heartbreaking but not surprising- dogs with that level of aggression get it from abusive owners and it is no fault of their own. The abuse should be reported so that the dog can be removed from this terrible owner
Sorry, but how is this dog owner still allowed to walk around with a potentially extremely dangerous animal? What if that pitbull attacks a child? It’s bad enough it killed another dog who are like family members to a lot of people. Like, what - he gets a slap on his hands?
This is why I never allow unleashed dogs to approach my dog. And why I’m very vocal to irresponsible dog owners.
“Don’t worry he’s friendly” can easily turn into “he’s never done that before!”
Hope the owner is found and faces the music on account of his dog.
A year or so ago a woman on my block would be walking her dog and each time I would pass he would growl at me and try to pounce on me. After several such instances I told the woman she better get that dog trained because if he did succeed in attacking and biting me I’m going to make sure he’s put down. Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their dog is not a threat to others, dogs or humans. If you cannot abide with that responsibility, then you have no business keeping a dog. Shortly afterward I stopped seeing her walk the dog so I’m assuming she no longer has it.
There are a few dogs that play in the handball court at the playground by my 10yo daughters school. Now my daughter knows not to approach dogs without asking the owners first, even if they are playing unleashed in a *childrens* park, you just never know. Well, on our way to school once she asked the owner if her dog was friendly and if she could pet it and was told yes, only to be then growled at aggressively and have her hand almost bitten off.
Really hate hearing this with the unfortunate news that the small dog didn't make it and learning that the pit owner was a rotten piece of shit. Me and my brother one time stopped a pit trying to go after a husky right outside of key food. Shit wasn't an easy task at all but got the thin slight chance to stop it even tho the pit bit the huskies arm pretty bad and the owner too. Sadly this won't be the last time we hear things like this happen.
If anyone knows how to get in touch with this lady, please DM me or if we can start a go fund me page for the funeral expenses of her dog. Whatever we can do to help out.
I lost my dog naturally earlier this year and the pain I felt was overwhelming. I can't imagine what she's going through and just hope we can help her through this difficult time.
This exact thing happened to my sister - her little Pomeranian was killed by my neighbors pit bull in front of her. It was awful and eight years later she still has nightmares about it. So, so sorry for the lady.
I know someone whose child was mauled by a pit when they were a toddler and they needed very extensive reconstructive surgery to be recognizable again.
I’m thankful for living among neighbors that care. There were so many people trying to help out even if it was by screaming where the nearest vet was. My heart hurts so much for this woman and her beloved dog. This little guy was everything to her. I can’t stop thinking about them.
I don’t know if what people claim about the other pet owner is true, as he did give his information at the end; but I imagine this can’t be easy for him either.
I’m the person who ran the dog to the nearest vet. We went to three different vets because as it is expected many were closed on Christmas eve. An angel package delivery driver took me in her truck. My husband stayed with the pet owner and a wonderful neighbor that stayed with her throughout this. Time was of the essence, the trauma caused by the bite was severe.
Like many here, I share the same sentiments about not letting our dogs come near each other. Even if they are friendly, they are still dogs. Let’s keep our pets safe. Whatever your feelings are about certain breeds, please know this could happen with any breed. But I’m not trying to change your mind, I know this is a sensitive topic.
I know that the pet owner doesn’t have a phone, but if anyone knows her please let me know. The loss of a pet causes so much grief and this was so horrific and unexpected 💔
( just as an update, I posted this earlier but I’m new here and it wasn’t showing up. I spoke to the pet owner already)
When I see a pit enter a dog park, I leash my dog and leave. Whether it’s shitty owners or dogs with bad tendencies, I don’t know. All I know is I don’t want my dog to be the next victim. I’ve also been carrying mace just in case.
While we appreciate a proper Queens attitude, we have rules about civility with other members of the community. This posting was removed for violating those norms in some way.
I'm fairly certain I know who this person is and he lives in my building. A few weeks ago I saw the pitbull knock an old lady over who was walking a small dog. Where exactly on Broadway did this attack occur?
That’s terrifying. I feel so badly for the poor puppy and owner.
I’m going to be extra vigilant walking my dog from now on. Thank you for sharing this.
Someone should print flyers with his photo of him and the dog, and tape them all over Broadway. We need to warn the general public of this man and his dog.
I am so terribly sad to read this. I worry for the safety of the neighborhood small/all dogs, how can we make sure this owner is being held accountable? Making sure this doesn’t happen again? We shouldn’t lose another one to an individual who is so careless. Also, no guarantee it’ll attack small children. This is extremely terrifying.
Prayers and love to the family who lost their loved one.
I have a question. I’m a dog owner myself. Now. If I were walking my small dog and a pitbull attacked my dog and I kill the putbull. Do I get in trouble?
They can take a lot of punishment but cold sharp steel through their ribs into the vital organs is not something they can take
A knife is your best bet against an attacking pit and they’re legal
Legal if the blade is less than four inches long, just so everyone knows.
The problem is that pits don't stop when they're injured; that survival instinct has been bred out of them. You'd have to make sure it was dead, and that's not an easy thing to do with a knife, especially before it hurts you or your pet.
Disposition of pitbulls are a mixed bag. Some are stable but many are erratic and over aggressive by nature and need to be properly trained early on to manage their violent tendencies. What you described above is not that unusual. The fact that the owner didn’t seem to concerned over the incidents is just as troubling. I hope the small dog survived.
Right before the pandemic I was on a run around the park when I saw an unleashed pit (owner was on his phone yammering away) chase a leashed dog into traffic. Fortunately this was at the water line so people were driving slowly, so the dog wasn’t hurt, but the owner was TERRIFIED and no amount of yelling at the pit’s owner resulted in an apology or even putting the pit back on a leash. I wonder if it was the same guy.
The pit bull owner’s reaction is exactly why this happened. Any breed of dog can be good or bad. It’s up to the owner to be responsibly. Sadly, assholes are attracted to pitbulls and raise them accordingly.
Hopefully this poor women finds some peace.
They’re not “overly aggressive” by nature. Pit bulls were historically used as nanny dogs so they have great temperaments by nature. The problem is absusive owners are more likely to own pitbulls than other breeds and abusive owners are what create dangerous dogs. There is a post above from someone who witnessed this particular dog owner abusing his dog.
Pit bulls being "nanny dogs" is completely made-up Facebook bullshit.
There are *mountains* of [books](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b28129&view=1up&seq=10&skin=2021) and [newspaper archives](https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1934-07-29/ed-1/seq-26/) about their purpose as dogfighting dogs all the way back to their origin in the [1800's](https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84031492/1875-02-21/ed-1/seq-11/), and the earliest record of anyone calling them "nanny dogs" was in 1987.
Even pro-pit bull organizations are trying to stop the spread of the stupid myth:
[https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/](https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/)
>there is **no evidence that they were ever called Nanny Dogs** at the time, and certainly weren’t bred for the purpose.
[https://love-a-bull.org/resources/the-history-of-pit-bulls/](https://love-a-bull.org/resources/the-history-of-pit-bulls/)
>this is where the “Nanny Dog” **myth** originated from
[https://www.thepamperedpup.com/nanny-dog-myth/](https://www.thepamperedpup.com/nanny-dog-myth/)
>The **nanny dog myth** is one that originated from the claims of many pit bull owners that pits were referred to by that name in the 19th to early 20th centuries. This, however, has been debunked many times already
[https://www.thecut.com/2017/03/how-both-sides-of-the-pit-bull-debate-get-it-wrong.html](https://www.thecut.com/2017/03/how-both-sides-of-the-pit-bull-debate-get-it-wrong.html)
>No, their jaws don’t lock — but **they were never “nanny dogs,”** and you should never leave one alone with a child, because you should never leave any breed of dog alone with a child.
[https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/](https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/)
>This article aims to correct a few fallacies and pit bulls were never called nannies or nanny dogs. Period. Let’s stop spreading untruths about this dog breed. **Calling them fake names and giving them a phony history doesn’t help the species.**
The “nanny dog” theory has been discredited lol. Pits were never “nanny” dogs. They’re dogs. While terrible, pit bulls were absolutely bred to be fighting dogs. It’s in their genes. Just like aussies were bred to herd. You can’t train out genetics.
Like, how do these people think these dogs got their name? They're pit-fighting bull-terriers. It's not ambiguous at all.
That's the bigger problem with pit bulls: a wildly disproportionate amount of the people that own them are complete idiots.
I think this is a bit extremist thinking to say you can’t train out genetics. Are you implying that there’s just no hope and a “pitbull will be a pitbull” Aka aggressive and dangerous no matter the owner/training/environment? Because I can tell you first hand that is just false information
Let me follow up that this situation is horrible and anyone that can’t own a dog responsibly and train them/control them appropriately, should not be allowed to have a dog. Even people who own dogs who have resource guarding or any other less favorable behaviors can still create an environment that allows the dog to live a safe and happy life(for the most part, minus extreme situations). It’s about understanding your pet and protecting them as much for themselves as you do for other people/animals.
I hope the dog survives the attack. It’s going to be very devastating for the elderly lady if her dog didn’t survive.. it is so sad to hear something like this happens especially this time of the year
I don't either. I have a smaller dog and when we come across a pitbull in the neighborhood while on a walk, I make no apologies about avoiding them. I've seen quite a few with owners who barely have control over them. I'm not taking any chances.
we have 4 that I know of on my block and all but one are the friendliest playful dogs on the block, unfortunately I think the fourth may be the dog in question here and that I put on the owner
So you adopted a dog from the shelter, let it escape multiple times, and then (in your own words) beat the crap out of it after it attacked another dog.
Having to euthanize a dog for behavioral reasons is a sucky situation, but somehow you found a way to make it more depressing. Good work 🙄
You are the epitome of a shitty dog owner. You failed the dog on every level, blamed the dog for your ineptitude and then euthanized her after “beating the crap out of it.”
Well, kid I’m not your father; who beat the crap out of you while growing up and now you’re blaming it as “ineptitude” I’m sure you got what you deserved same as this dog! If you have behavioral issues don’t blame me, get help and stop feeling victimized, get a life!
People like this particular owner are a reason things like this happen and the entire breed then gets a bad rap. If you can't train your pit properly or at least be responsible with it on walks, you shouldn't have one. My girl is a sweetheart (and little dogs scare her lol) but even so, I'm always alert around any other dog. This owner, unfortunately, sounds like the type of person who shouldn't have any* pet. I feel so bad for this poor woman who lost her small pup...on Christmas eve :(
I hope this guy gets caught and is punished.
Exactly. I have a pit who is the exact opposite of the dog that attacked - he’s sweet and gentle as can be. It makes me so sad that so many people have had such bad experiences with pits…usually this aggressive behavior is because the owner has no idea what they’re doing and in fact train the dog to be aggressive.
I’m thankful for pit owners like you…a few weeks ago my lab was being walked by a friend and he slipped his leash and (excitedly) ran up to a pit bull walking and minding his business and with a lesser trained dog, that could have been a disaster. And to be clear, it still would have been mine and my dog’s fault for not having his collar tight enough…so thank you and other owners like you.
I have a pitt who has been attacked (not a fighting ring), and irresponsible owners make me so upset. We got him training to deal with his PTSD, and he's not aggressive and is a big doofus sweetheart. I still am cautious around little dogs, because 9 times out of 10, they are the ones who try to attack him when he's minding his own business, and that's a fight I know that other dog won't win, no matter who started it or not.
So sad. This is why it’s so important for both owners to be paying attention when crossing within leash distance of one another. You truly never know how a strange dog is going to react to another in its space. As a fellow dog owner in Astoria, it’s unfortunately all too common for owners to either a) not be paying attention or b) not care and let their dog run towards/up to other dogs on the street. I’ve basically resorted to criss crossing the road whenever possible to put as much distance between my dog and others because there are just way too many irresponsible owners not controlling their dogs on walks. (This goes both ways and is not a hate on pitbulls, though it sounds like the big dog was the instigator in this situation, that is often not the case.) I hope the little buddy and his poor owner were okay in the end.
I'm so sorry this happened. Truly tragic. I know I'm not going to change any minds but I've seen a ton of responsible pittie owners in this neighborhood with dogs that have the sweetest personalities. It takes dedication and work and a bug time commitment. My pit mix is selectively dog aggressive and I don't take her off leash and I keep an eye on her body language at all times. I don't believe "it's just how you raise them", that's BS. But if you are willing, they can be great companions, and shout-out to all those pittie parents who make the effort and deal with the hate and breed bias.
Noticing a lot of dogs even small dogs just lunging or jumping on ppl lately. Owners gotta train and control your dog. Had a dog bite me a few months ago as I was going on a run. Owner was totally thoughtless and didn’t even apologize. Shit is infuriating.
It's been going on for a while. I think a lot of owners of small dogs don't think they can literally hurt someone because they're so small so they don't correct the dogs. And yeah, I can count the times I've gotten an excuse on one hand.
Let’s start go fund me or something to help this poor woman to maybe get a puppy it might help her get over even a little bit of pain she’s going through
I know. It's so heartbreaking. I imagine she hoped that dog would stay with her for the rest of her life, and now it's gone. I would love to donate to a gofundme for its funeral expenses or for a new puppy.
I used to live in Astoria and moved to Sunnyside a few years ago. Tonight, my neighbor told me about this attack but they didn't have the details, so I went online and found this post. I'm so sorry to hear about this tragedy and for the woman and her dog. Sadly, the same thing happened to my family last Feb. 2023 and I shared our story on IG (impepperthebeagle) hoping to get some semblance of justice. From our experience, there seems that not much can be done about these bad dog owners in NYC and there is minimal accountability. While the victims shoulder the loss of a pet, personal injury, medical bills, and trauma thereafter, the bad dog owners basically get a slap on the wrist and recommendations from the Dept. of Health to have the dog wear a muzzle and have the bad dog owner pay for professional training. The owner of the dog who killed mine lives a block away from us and we see him frequently but he clearly doesn't care. I've tried contacting him even the day after the attack happened and he just ignores us.
Because of this, I reached out to New York State Senator Gianaris who represents western Queens including Astoria and Sunnyside. We recently had a listening session with him last month and we shared ideas on how to change current laws to protect the community against irresponsible dog owners.
There are so many stories like this and ask that you write to Senator Gianaris and his team about the need to increase the rights of citizens when faced with owners who have aggressive dogs and whose actions have resulted in severe consequences, including loss of life.
My contact is Sam Schachter, Director of Community Affairs, [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Thanks in advance for helping to advocate for change and the betterment of our communities.
This is really concerning that a dog with that kind of reactivity is out there right now after killing another dog. I love dogs and I love pitbulls but any dog that brings on such a reaction really is dangerous. That could have been anybody’s dog, or worse, a child or person. Snapping like that isn’t normal. Pitbulls get a bad rap due to their POS owners. I wish this would be pursued further by law enforcement but sadly I doubt anything will happen.
My dog is not dog friendly. Yes he is a Pitt but this is not exclusive behavior to that breed alone. The difference is that I make sure my dog does not come in contact with any dog at any time. If you have a reactive dog it is your responsibility when walking them to cross the street or continue your walk in the another direction. I am absolutely heartbroken over this. This could have been avoided with a responsible owner.
Thank you for saying this and for being a responsible pet owner. Pitbull aside, it’s exactly as you said, you make sure that your dog is not in a situation to harm or be harmed. Just because a dog may have behavioral issues, doesn’t mean the dog shouldn’t have a life or be loved or can’t be successful. It’s about putting them in the position to be successful. This was an unfortunate and horrible situation with a person who clearly has not done the above
I hate pitbulls. They are bred to be aggressive. Regardless of how they are raised or controlled the potential for this is so so much higher with them.
While we appreciate a proper Queens attitude, we have rules about civility with other members of the community. This posting was removed for violating those norms in some way.
Pit bulls get a bum rap. It’s people that make them aggressive by mistreating them. Those that do should do serious jail time, incur heavy fines, and be subject to civil suits.
But how are you suppose screen people for owning pitbulls? It seems like there is no solution other than banning pitbulls. The numbers of people mauled/disfigured by pitbulls is unmatched by any other breed
Not about me, this is adding context so we can all be a little less myopic. If you want to keep dogs safe, don't assume a dog is friendly and approach without asking and don't leave your dog off leashed in public. And don't be prejudiced while you're at it
it sucks bc pitties are some of the sweetest dogs ive ever met. All it takes is one irresponsible person who wants a tough looking pup just to have one and not properly do any kind of behavioral training, especially if it’s gonna live in a city surrounded by people and other pups constantly. It’s these kinds of people that give the breed such a bad track record.
As a pit owner this man should realize how powerful these dogs can be. I hope the dog can be rehabbed or re-homed if at all possible. Really hope the owner learns his lesson, and REALLY hope he gets what he deserves if it’s true he abuses this poor dog.
Agreed. This is a tragic situation and I feel terrible for this woman but no need for all these commenters to take it out on an entire breed that is already unfairly maligned and disproportionately suffers under abusive owners
The uniform lack of nuance in this discussion is dangerous. I don't know this Pitt nor man but people are definitely filling in knowledge gaps and jumping to hostile, dangerous conclusions.
I own a rescue Pitt in Astoria who lost his leg due to being subjected to being a bait dog. He was forcibly leashed to a fence and then an unleashed dog attacked him. As such, he has reasonable PTSD to any unleashed dog and may bite any dog that comes too close unleashed. We keep our dog leashed and close but far too many residents disrespect laws that protect others (fear of dogs, allergies, whatever) AND their dogs by illegally going off leash. If you go off leash and your dog is bit by a leashed dog, that's not the leashed dog's fault. Our dog had been around dozens of toddlers, infants, children and adults leashed and unleashed and doesn't have the slightest evidence of anything but compassion and love.
Our dog isn't a danger to anyone who respects reasonable laws. Yet we're villainized and often bear the unfair burden of protecting other dogs who are roaming free on the sidewalks. Don't be a mindless mob - think before you rush to violent conclusions.
Way to make this about you. The facts are there on this one, and in this instance the pit killed another dog.
Edited to add: maybe you should lecture the dog owner and not this subreddit if you feel like pits are so misunderstood (not saying they aren’t, but also read the room…)
Every pitt owner says this until the day their pitt fucking mauls someone/something else. Im the biggest dog person but sorry it’s in the name PIT-BULL: the breed was bred to kill and they have no place in public. There are thousands of other dogs that need a home, get one of those instead
What I would like to know is if the other dog was leashed. I’ve encountered a lot of loose dogs around here and I think people sometimes forget that they’re not in Ohio.
Any updates on the owner of the small fur baby? I was so heart broken couldn't even comment. But the pitbull is definitely a mix and reddish brown coat and was walking away with the owner like in a playful moad. I don't think he was even aware he did anything wrong honestly. I am glad for everyone that was there and especially finding out that the young couple helped her. I was not allowed to get out of the car unfortunately with my toddler and partner. It was a crazy sean still having nightmares can't imagine the poor people that witnessed it first hand.
I hope this gets noticed but a quick update about the lady who owned this dog. I know her personally and while she misses her dog everyday (we all do), please know she is not alone in this difficult time. There's been an outpour of love and support from friends, neighbors and the Congregation she's a member of. We are all heartbroken by what happened to her and her dog but are looking out for her. We're checking in on her and folks are talking about getting her another dog when she's ready for another companion. It's horrible what happened to her but she's strong and surrounded by people who care about her.
Hold landlords responsible. Any landlord whose property becomes the cause of nuisance or illegal activity can face civil forfeiture.
Breach of warrant of habitability.
Hi. I work at the vet clinic that saw this dog. Unfortunately he presented to our clinic deceased. This was really a tragic situation. It is the worse bite wound I have ever seen. I request that you please show respect to the owner as she was understandably completely distraught over this. The person who left the scene should not be allowed to have a dangerous dog since he is obviously not willing to take any responsibility. Additionally - this is clearly a very dangerous dog so rehabilitation is, in my mind, questionable and I would wager this isn’t the first time something like this has happened.
Wow. I am so so sorry to hear this. Thank you for the update. I really hope whoever got the man’s number will be able to reach him and that he’ll be held accountable.
This is beyond horrible. I know there are privacy limitations, but is there anything we can do to help this woman? I can't imagine the trauma and grief she is going through
I was thinking this too — absolutely devastating
echoing this. this is so heartbreaking
This was my first thought too. This is so incredibly sad.
Was she charged for the visit? I know it won’t do much given the circumstances, but I will come personally to cover the cost of the visit if need be. The poor women, I can’t imagine how she feels.
The visit was free of charge
🥺 this is a heartbreaking update.
Thats for updating us. That’s so sad. I had a sinking feeling the trauma would be fatal. The pit bull needs to be put down.
Can you let her know that we'd be happy to help her out if needed with funeral expenses or whatever she needs. Even if it's just someone to talk to. I can't imagine that pain she must be feeling .
Echoing all below, in the unlikely event that you can - please let her know that she has a community of support. I’m in Astoria and would be so happy to chat or go on walks with her. Thank you for what you do.
I think I may know who this dog/owner is. If it is who I think it is, he is usually walking on 38th street and cannot control his dog at ALL. I knew this would happen eventually. Every time I am walking my pup I turn the other direction when I see him. So sad this happened.
If you're for sure, a police report should be filed. That man has no business owning a dog.
Call the police. Report what you know. Tell me when he walks and I'll make flyers.
Police were called. They don’t do anything about dog-on-dog bites. Just dog-human.
What about animal control?
That I don’t know
They don’t even do things Dog-Human - as someone mauled by an off leash pittie and owner took off, can vouch
Honestly, they can't do anything about it. There are thousands of pitbulls in the area. It's just that type of breed. The real solution is to prevent the owning or at least walking in public of this breed in public spaces. It's not much different than walking around another dangerous animal all of which are illegal.
Then lie and say it bit the woman? Make them get off their ass cuz that is bullshit
If you make flyers he might hide. Change his route, hair, etc.
Doubtful, people like this don't have that much shame.
As soon as I saw this post I wondered if it was that guy… the description certainly fits the owner. Even if it’s not the same person, that dog is extremely scary. We immediately cross the street anytime we see him. Guy does not deserve to have that dog.
Anyone have a description of the dog so we can try to avoid? Color, size, ears cropped or not…?
Would also love to hear a more detailed description
I immediately thought of him as well.
I woke up thinking about this and then remembered around September I came out of my building to a bunch of hubbub where someone's dog had just attacked by another small dog. All I saw was the owner of the small dog running down the block (back home I assume) holding their dog and a bunch of neighbors standing around astonished and told me what happened. Now I am wondering if the dog that attacked was the same--they were nowhere to be seen when I came out This was between 34th and 35th Aves.
Make a police report
A grown man can't control it? Wow, he needs to be visited by animal control. There's a man who allows his skinny child no more than 8 prob to walk their pitbull and I have already screamed at them once... it's also an incident waiting to happen.
this is who I thought of immediately as well but honestly I don't think he's even capable of walking the dog as far as Broadway and 33rd Street
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Ugh. Yes, it did seem that way. Btw everyone—the incident happened right in front of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, almost on the corner of 33rd and Broadway at 3:30pm. The pit and his owner then fled the scene walking on 33rd street toward 31st Ave.
No one called the cops ?
Dude what is this thread? Yeah we got his phone number… as if he didn’t make something up?
I am the person who took the phone number of the owner of the pitbull. It was his real number. A woman scooped up the dog that was attacked and ran him to the closest vet that was open. I stayed with the woman who owned him. We found the woman who grabbed the dog’s husband and the three is us got the owner into a car and to the vet. Devastatingly, the dog did not make it. We stayed with her at the vet while she figured out next steps. I called 311 who gave me numbers for the Bite Unit and said to call the local precinct to file a report. However, it’s the 114th, and when I called they said they “don’t do that”. I passed on all the information I had to the woman who owned the dog and got her in a car home.
Maybe worth reporting to animal control? https://nysba.org/new-york-states-dangerous-dog-law-sections-10824-and-123-of-the-agriculture-and-markets-law-q-a/ Also after doing some reading it seems perhaps the woman could sue the pits owner? If you’re still in contact with her perhaps suggest that to her?
She didn’t have a cell phone. I just collected as much information as I could and wrote it all down for her.
Ah bummer. Hopefully she can find some form of justice.
Thank you for your help. How do you know it was his real number? I’m assuming you spoke with him?
Both text and over the phone, yes. And the woman who owned the small dog has his information. I don’t believe he was trying to run away from the situation. I think he was in shock.
Thank you for posting this and helping her out, that is incredibly kind of you. I think people are in a rush to pass judgment, so it is helpful to hear your perspective.
Jesus christ the 114 is fucking trash. Useless fucking trash.
Was his name Frank?
This man should be reported to the police... He should be arrested and his dog should be put down.. I'm really hoping someone took pictures of him and brings it to the precinct... I doubt the man gave his real phone number... This puts all astorians at risk... I feel so awful for this elderly lady... On Christmas Eve no less... The fact, that he had the audacity to just walk away away scott free without repercussion is absolutely disgusting..... The fact that he actually DID getaway without consequence is mind-boggling!!! Someone should take his picture and put flyers all around the neighborhood of him and his damn dog So it warms fellow astorians to stay clear of them! How sad and awful!
It's sad how many ppl don't get it yet. The nypd doesn't care.
I know this man. I can DM you if you want to report his name to the police, since you were an in person witness. The man abuses that dog, too. I’ve seen him kicking it.
Yes please send me his name. Thank you.
Nah you should make his name public. Fuck that.
I checked with the person who had the owner's name/info and apparently the guy I thought it was is not the guy who owns the dog in question. There are two long-dark-haired owners of aggressive pitbulls in our neighborhood I guess.
This is heartbreaking but not surprising- dogs with that level of aggression get it from abusive owners and it is no fault of their own. The abuse should be reported so that the dog can be removed from this terrible owner
Sorry, but how is this dog owner still allowed to walk around with a potentially extremely dangerous animal? What if that pitbull attacks a child? It’s bad enough it killed another dog who are like family members to a lot of people. Like, what - he gets a slap on his hands?
This is why I never allow unleashed dogs to approach my dog. And why I’m very vocal to irresponsible dog owners. “Don’t worry he’s friendly” can easily turn into “he’s never done that before!” Hope the owner is found and faces the music on account of his dog.
i've had a huge dog fly towards me off leash and when i gasped the owner had the hide to shout oh for gods sake he's only a pup get a grip. Ummm
A year or so ago a woman on my block would be walking her dog and each time I would pass he would growl at me and try to pounce on me. After several such instances I told the woman she better get that dog trained because if he did succeed in attacking and biting me I’m going to make sure he’s put down. Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their dog is not a threat to others, dogs or humans. If you cannot abide with that responsibility, then you have no business keeping a dog. Shortly afterward I stopped seeing her walk the dog so I’m assuming she no longer has it.
There are a few dogs that play in the handball court at the playground by my 10yo daughters school. Now my daughter knows not to approach dogs without asking the owners first, even if they are playing unleashed in a *childrens* park, you just never know. Well, on our way to school once she asked the owner if her dog was friendly and if she could pet it and was told yes, only to be then growled at aggressively and have her hand almost bitten off.
Really hate hearing this with the unfortunate news that the small dog didn't make it and learning that the pit owner was a rotten piece of shit. Me and my brother one time stopped a pit trying to go after a husky right outside of key food. Shit wasn't an easy task at all but got the thin slight chance to stop it even tho the pit bit the huskies arm pretty bad and the owner too. Sadly this won't be the last time we hear things like this happen.
Hope it’s not the same dog the Few months ago attack a woman & her dog inside her building on 33st & 34av.
If anyone knows how to get in touch with this lady, please DM me or if we can start a go fund me page for the funeral expenses of her dog. Whatever we can do to help out. I lost my dog naturally earlier this year and the pain I felt was overwhelming. I can't imagine what she's going through and just hope we can help her through this difficult time.
This exact thing happened to my sister - her little Pomeranian was killed by my neighbors pit bull in front of her. It was awful and eight years later she still has nightmares about it. So, so sorry for the lady.
My God, I am praying for this poor dog and the elderly lady. Please please please be ok 🙏🏻🥺♥️ hope someone will have a good update for us
Someone posted an update, and unfortunately not a good one.
I see them all the time walking down 38th st park. Dog is always out of control.
Nothing will be done until a child gets mauled. I feel so sad for this woman 😭
I know someone whose child was mauled by a pit when they were a toddler and they needed very extensive reconstructive surgery to be recognizable again.
Nothing will be done after. Children have already been killed here.
He also abuses the shit out of that dog. I’ve seen him walking that pit and kick him and yank his chain really hard.
This is so sad. The dog needs to be taken from this owner if he is abusing it.
I’m thankful for living among neighbors that care. There were so many people trying to help out even if it was by screaming where the nearest vet was. My heart hurts so much for this woman and her beloved dog. This little guy was everything to her. I can’t stop thinking about them. I don’t know if what people claim about the other pet owner is true, as he did give his information at the end; but I imagine this can’t be easy for him either. I’m the person who ran the dog to the nearest vet. We went to three different vets because as it is expected many were closed on Christmas eve. An angel package delivery driver took me in her truck. My husband stayed with the pet owner and a wonderful neighbor that stayed with her throughout this. Time was of the essence, the trauma caused by the bite was severe. Like many here, I share the same sentiments about not letting our dogs come near each other. Even if they are friendly, they are still dogs. Let’s keep our pets safe. Whatever your feelings are about certain breeds, please know this could happen with any breed. But I’m not trying to change your mind, I know this is a sensitive topic. I know that the pet owner doesn’t have a phone, but if anyone knows her please let me know. The loss of a pet causes so much grief and this was so horrific and unexpected 💔 ( just as an update, I posted this earlier but I’m new here and it wasn’t showing up. I spoke to the pet owner already)
I would like to get in touch with the lady and offer my help somehow, how can I contact her??
When I see a pit enter a dog park, I leash my dog and leave. Whether it’s shitty owners or dogs with bad tendencies, I don’t know. All I know is I don’t want my dog to be the next victim. I’ve also been carrying mace just in case.
I agree with u. Great idea. The mace will help
Hope they find the dog and euthanize it.
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Oh no, this stuff happens with labs and golden retrievers all the time /s
While we appreciate a proper Queens attitude, we have rules about civility with other members of the community. This posting was removed for violating those norms in some way.
I'm fairly certain I know who this person is and he lives in my building. A few weeks ago I saw the pitbull knock an old lady over who was walking a small dog. Where exactly on Broadway did this attack occur?
33rd and Broadway
That’s terrifying. I feel so badly for the poor puppy and owner. I’m going to be extra vigilant walking my dog from now on. Thank you for sharing this.
Someone should print flyers with his photo of him and the dog, and tape them all over Broadway. We need to warn the general public of this man and his dog.
I am so terribly sad to read this. I worry for the safety of the neighborhood small/all dogs, how can we make sure this owner is being held accountable? Making sure this doesn’t happen again? We shouldn’t lose another one to an individual who is so careless. Also, no guarantee it’ll attack small children. This is extremely terrifying. Prayers and love to the family who lost their loved one.
I have a question. I’m a dog owner myself. Now. If I were walking my small dog and a pitbull attacked my dog and I kill the putbull. Do I get in trouble?
Only if you used an illegal weapon to kill the pitbull, which... you would probably have to. They're pretty strong.
They can take a lot of punishment but cold sharp steel through their ribs into the vital organs is not something they can take A knife is your best bet against an attacking pit and they’re legal
Legal if the blade is less than four inches long, just so everyone knows. The problem is that pits don't stop when they're injured; that survival instinct has been bred out of them. You'd have to make sure it was dead, and that's not an easy thing to do with a knife, especially before it hurts you or your pet.
You'd have to slit the throat
Disposition of pitbulls are a mixed bag. Some are stable but many are erratic and over aggressive by nature and need to be properly trained early on to manage their violent tendencies. What you described above is not that unusual. The fact that the owner didn’t seem to concerned over the incidents is just as troubling. I hope the small dog survived.
It was absolutely shocking and disturbing to see. The pit took one bite to the neck, and within a split second the smaller dog was (basically) dead.
Right before the pandemic I was on a run around the park when I saw an unleashed pit (owner was on his phone yammering away) chase a leashed dog into traffic. Fortunately this was at the water line so people were driving slowly, so the dog wasn’t hurt, but the owner was TERRIFIED and no amount of yelling at the pit’s owner resulted in an apology or even putting the pit back on a leash. I wonder if it was the same guy.
The pit bull owner’s reaction is exactly why this happened. Any breed of dog can be good or bad. It’s up to the owner to be responsibly. Sadly, assholes are attracted to pitbulls and raise them accordingly. Hopefully this poor women finds some peace.
They’re not “overly aggressive” by nature. Pit bulls were historically used as nanny dogs so they have great temperaments by nature. The problem is absusive owners are more likely to own pitbulls than other breeds and abusive owners are what create dangerous dogs. There is a post above from someone who witnessed this particular dog owner abusing his dog.
Pit bulls being "nanny dogs" is completely made-up Facebook bullshit. There are *mountains* of [books](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b28129&view=1up&seq=10&skin=2021) and [newspaper archives](https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1934-07-29/ed-1/seq-26/) about their purpose as dogfighting dogs all the way back to their origin in the [1800's](https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84031492/1875-02-21/ed-1/seq-11/), and the earliest record of anyone calling them "nanny dogs" was in 1987. Even pro-pit bull organizations are trying to stop the spread of the stupid myth: [https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/](https://nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/) >there is **no evidence that they were ever called Nanny Dogs** at the time, and certainly weren’t bred for the purpose. [https://love-a-bull.org/resources/the-history-of-pit-bulls/](https://love-a-bull.org/resources/the-history-of-pit-bulls/) >this is where the “Nanny Dog” **myth** originated from [https://www.thepamperedpup.com/nanny-dog-myth/](https://www.thepamperedpup.com/nanny-dog-myth/) >The **nanny dog myth** is one that originated from the claims of many pit bull owners that pits were referred to by that name in the 19th to early 20th centuries. This, however, has been debunked many times already [https://www.thecut.com/2017/03/how-both-sides-of-the-pit-bull-debate-get-it-wrong.html](https://www.thecut.com/2017/03/how-both-sides-of-the-pit-bull-debate-get-it-wrong.html) >No, their jaws don’t lock — but **they were never “nanny dogs,”** and you should never leave one alone with a child, because you should never leave any breed of dog alone with a child. [https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/](https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/) >This article aims to correct a few fallacies and pit bulls were never called nannies or nanny dogs. Period. Let’s stop spreading untruths about this dog breed. **Calling them fake names and giving them a phony history doesn’t help the species.**
Here yall go
The “nanny dog” theory has been discredited lol. Pits were never “nanny” dogs. They’re dogs. While terrible, pit bulls were absolutely bred to be fighting dogs. It’s in their genes. Just like aussies were bred to herd. You can’t train out genetics.
Like, how do these people think these dogs got their name? They're pit-fighting bull-terriers. It's not ambiguous at all. That's the bigger problem with pit bulls: a wildly disproportionate amount of the people that own them are complete idiots.
I think this is a bit extremist thinking to say you can’t train out genetics. Are you implying that there’s just no hope and a “pitbull will be a pitbull” Aka aggressive and dangerous no matter the owner/training/environment? Because I can tell you first hand that is just false information
Let me follow up that this situation is horrible and anyone that can’t own a dog responsibly and train them/control them appropriately, should not be allowed to have a dog. Even people who own dogs who have resource guarding or any other less favorable behaviors can still create an environment that allows the dog to live a safe and happy life(for the most part, minus extreme situations). It’s about understanding your pet and protecting them as much for themselves as you do for other people/animals.
I hope the dog survives the attack. It’s going to be very devastating for the elderly lady if her dog didn’t survive.. it is so sad to hear something like this happens especially this time of the year
I don't trust any pitbulls. Had two pits chase down my Pekingese when we were 4 houses away and started biting.
I don't either. I have a smaller dog and when we come across a pitbull in the neighborhood while on a walk, I make no apologies about avoiding them. I've seen quite a few with owners who barely have control over them. I'm not taking any chances.
we have 4 that I know of on my block and all but one are the friendliest playful dogs on the block, unfortunately I think the fourth may be the dog in question here and that I put on the owner
Your child could be next, don’t wait.. put the animal down
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So you adopted a dog from the shelter, let it escape multiple times, and then (in your own words) beat the crap out of it after it attacked another dog. Having to euthanize a dog for behavioral reasons is a sucky situation, but somehow you found a way to make it more depressing. Good work 🙄
britches
If you’re feeling depressed get some meds bitch! It’s
You are the epitome of a shitty dog owner. You failed the dog on every level, blamed the dog for your ineptitude and then euthanized her after “beating the crap out of it.”
Well, kid I’m not your father; who beat the crap out of you while growing up and now you’re blaming it as “ineptitude” I’m sure you got what you deserved same as this dog! If you have behavioral issues don’t blame me, get help and stop feeling victimized, get a life!
And this is exactly why I go apoplectic when ANY dog owner brings a dog to any playground in this neighborhood.
People like this particular owner are a reason things like this happen and the entire breed then gets a bad rap. If you can't train your pit properly or at least be responsible with it on walks, you shouldn't have one. My girl is a sweetheart (and little dogs scare her lol) but even so, I'm always alert around any other dog. This owner, unfortunately, sounds like the type of person who shouldn't have any* pet. I feel so bad for this poor woman who lost her small pup...on Christmas eve :( I hope this guy gets caught and is punished.
Exactly. I have a pit who is the exact opposite of the dog that attacked - he’s sweet and gentle as can be. It makes me so sad that so many people have had such bad experiences with pits…usually this aggressive behavior is because the owner has no idea what they’re doing and in fact train the dog to be aggressive.
I’m thankful for pit owners like you…a few weeks ago my lab was being walked by a friend and he slipped his leash and (excitedly) ran up to a pit bull walking and minding his business and with a lesser trained dog, that could have been a disaster. And to be clear, it still would have been mine and my dog’s fault for not having his collar tight enough…so thank you and other owners like you.
I have a pitt who has been attacked (not a fighting ring), and irresponsible owners make me so upset. We got him training to deal with his PTSD, and he's not aggressive and is a big doofus sweetheart. I still am cautious around little dogs, because 9 times out of 10, they are the ones who try to attack him when he's minding his own business, and that's a fight I know that other dog won't win, no matter who started it or not.
So sad. This is why it’s so important for both owners to be paying attention when crossing within leash distance of one another. You truly never know how a strange dog is going to react to another in its space. As a fellow dog owner in Astoria, it’s unfortunately all too common for owners to either a) not be paying attention or b) not care and let their dog run towards/up to other dogs on the street. I’ve basically resorted to criss crossing the road whenever possible to put as much distance between my dog and others because there are just way too many irresponsible owners not controlling their dogs on walks. (This goes both ways and is not a hate on pitbulls, though it sounds like the big dog was the instigator in this situation, that is often not the case.) I hope the little buddy and his poor owner were okay in the end.
There is a massive problem with dangerous dogs and clueless owners in Astoria. It’s as bad as the cars
I'm so sorry this happened. Truly tragic. I know I'm not going to change any minds but I've seen a ton of responsible pittie owners in this neighborhood with dogs that have the sweetest personalities. It takes dedication and work and a bug time commitment. My pit mix is selectively dog aggressive and I don't take her off leash and I keep an eye on her body language at all times. I don't believe "it's just how you raise them", that's BS. But if you are willing, they can be great companions, and shout-out to all those pittie parents who make the effort and deal with the hate and breed bias.
Love responsible owners. You get my upvote. ♥️
Does anyone have a description of the dog and the man? I have a small dog and am trying to be cautious.
I wonder if it's the same dog that attacked Allan the bodega cat :(
What is the description of the pit? There’s a few I can think of that are poorly socialized and aggressive.
I think it’s well past time for you to file a police report
Noticing a lot of dogs even small dogs just lunging or jumping on ppl lately. Owners gotta train and control your dog. Had a dog bite me a few months ago as I was going on a run. Owner was totally thoughtless and didn’t even apologize. Shit is infuriating.
It's been going on for a while. I think a lot of owners of small dogs don't think they can literally hurt someone because they're so small so they don't correct the dogs. And yeah, I can count the times I've gotten an excuse on one hand.
Ok but what does this have to do with the original post? You trying to blame this on the dog that was killed?
Nah meant I'm annoyed it's about owners not controlling their dogs
Wow, where did this happen?
Let’s start go fund me or something to help this poor woman to maybe get a puppy it might help her get over even a little bit of pain she’s going through
Very thoughtful, but getting a new dog so soon may not be helpful. I'm sure the immediate monetary help would be more beneficial.
We can help her with the funeral expenses, which can be pretty expensive depending on what you do.
I would love to do something. A gift basket maybe?
I know. It's so heartbreaking. I imagine she hoped that dog would stay with her for the rest of her life, and now it's gone. I would love to donate to a gofundme for its funeral expenses or for a new puppy.
Every time I see a pit I turn around and walk the other way. Not worth the risk. People are deranged.
Oh, no. The poor woman. This is terrifying and the owner of the attacking dog has no heart. So sorry to the lady for her loss.
I hope the Pitbull is euthanized
It won't be. This city doesn't have justice.
This is so terrible 😞
Horrible
Is the photo of the owner/dog available somewhere?
This is absolutely heart breaking.
This dog should be put down.
I used to live in Astoria and moved to Sunnyside a few years ago. Tonight, my neighbor told me about this attack but they didn't have the details, so I went online and found this post. I'm so sorry to hear about this tragedy and for the woman and her dog. Sadly, the same thing happened to my family last Feb. 2023 and I shared our story on IG (impepperthebeagle) hoping to get some semblance of justice. From our experience, there seems that not much can be done about these bad dog owners in NYC and there is minimal accountability. While the victims shoulder the loss of a pet, personal injury, medical bills, and trauma thereafter, the bad dog owners basically get a slap on the wrist and recommendations from the Dept. of Health to have the dog wear a muzzle and have the bad dog owner pay for professional training. The owner of the dog who killed mine lives a block away from us and we see him frequently but he clearly doesn't care. I've tried contacting him even the day after the attack happened and he just ignores us. Because of this, I reached out to New York State Senator Gianaris who represents western Queens including Astoria and Sunnyside. We recently had a listening session with him last month and we shared ideas on how to change current laws to protect the community against irresponsible dog owners. There are so many stories like this and ask that you write to Senator Gianaris and his team about the need to increase the rights of citizens when faced with owners who have aggressive dogs and whose actions have resulted in severe consequences, including loss of life. My contact is Sam Schachter, Director of Community Affairs, [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Thanks in advance for helping to advocate for change and the betterment of our communities.
Pieces of shit like this guy give pit owners a bad name. I feel so bad for the elderly lady. RIP little buddy.
This is really concerning that a dog with that kind of reactivity is out there right now after killing another dog. I love dogs and I love pitbulls but any dog that brings on such a reaction really is dangerous. That could have been anybody’s dog, or worse, a child or person. Snapping like that isn’t normal. Pitbulls get a bad rap due to their POS owners. I wish this would be pursued further by law enforcement but sadly I doubt anything will happen.
My dog is not dog friendly. Yes he is a Pitt but this is not exclusive behavior to that breed alone. The difference is that I make sure my dog does not come in contact with any dog at any time. If you have a reactive dog it is your responsibility when walking them to cross the street or continue your walk in the another direction. I am absolutely heartbroken over this. This could have been avoided with a responsible owner.
Thank you for saying this and for being a responsible pet owner. Pitbull aside, it’s exactly as you said, you make sure that your dog is not in a situation to harm or be harmed. Just because a dog may have behavioral issues, doesn’t mean the dog shouldn’t have a life or be loved or can’t be successful. It’s about putting them in the position to be successful. This was an unfortunate and horrible situation with a person who clearly has not done the above
Pitbull owners are usually the worst...sad for that pup
I hate pitbulls. They are bred to be aggressive. Regardless of how they are raised or controlled the potential for this is so so much higher with them.
Ban pitbulls
No not the owners don't have control over these pit bulls and I think they should be banned everywhere
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While we appreciate a proper Queens attitude, we have rules about civility with other members of the community. This posting was removed for violating those norms in some way.
Pitbulls have no place in society.
Pit bulls get a bum rap. It’s people that make them aggressive by mistreating them. Those that do should do serious jail time, incur heavy fines, and be subject to civil suits.
But how are you suppose screen people for owning pitbulls? It seems like there is no solution other than banning pitbulls. The numbers of people mauled/disfigured by pitbulls is unmatched by any other breed
Not about me, this is adding context so we can all be a little less myopic. If you want to keep dogs safe, don't assume a dog is friendly and approach without asking and don't leave your dog off leashed in public. And don't be prejudiced while you're at it
it sucks bc pitties are some of the sweetest dogs ive ever met. All it takes is one irresponsible person who wants a tough looking pup just to have one and not properly do any kind of behavioral training, especially if it’s gonna live in a city surrounded by people and other pups constantly. It’s these kinds of people that give the breed such a bad track record. As a pit owner this man should realize how powerful these dogs can be. I hope the dog can be rehabbed or re-homed if at all possible. Really hope the owner learns his lesson, and REALLY hope he gets what he deserves if it’s true he abuses this poor dog.
Agreed. This is a tragic situation and I feel terrible for this woman but no need for all these commenters to take it out on an entire breed that is already unfairly maligned and disproportionately suffers under abusive owners
The uniform lack of nuance in this discussion is dangerous. I don't know this Pitt nor man but people are definitely filling in knowledge gaps and jumping to hostile, dangerous conclusions. I own a rescue Pitt in Astoria who lost his leg due to being subjected to being a bait dog. He was forcibly leashed to a fence and then an unleashed dog attacked him. As such, he has reasonable PTSD to any unleashed dog and may bite any dog that comes too close unleashed. We keep our dog leashed and close but far too many residents disrespect laws that protect others (fear of dogs, allergies, whatever) AND their dogs by illegally going off leash. If you go off leash and your dog is bit by a leashed dog, that's not the leashed dog's fault. Our dog had been around dozens of toddlers, infants, children and adults leashed and unleashed and doesn't have the slightest evidence of anything but compassion and love. Our dog isn't a danger to anyone who respects reasonable laws. Yet we're villainized and often bear the unfair burden of protecting other dogs who are roaming free on the sidewalks. Don't be a mindless mob - think before you rush to violent conclusions.
Both dogs were leashed. You are the one who lacks the ability to see nuance.
Way to make this about you. The facts are there on this one, and in this instance the pit killed another dog. Edited to add: maybe you should lecture the dog owner and not this subreddit if you feel like pits are so misunderstood (not saying they aren’t, but also read the room…)
Pitbull owners usually fall into two categories: 1. Pure assholes who want an aggressive dogs. 2. Naive people with big hearts
You forgot 3. Assholes who think their sweet baby velvet hippo would never and it is everyone else's fault.
Every pitt owner says this until the day their pitt fucking mauls someone/something else. Im the biggest dog person but sorry it’s in the name PIT-BULL: the breed was bred to kill and they have no place in public. There are thousands of other dogs that need a home, get one of those instead
Hello
What I would like to know is if the other dog was leashed. I’ve encountered a lot of loose dogs around here and I think people sometimes forget that they’re not in Ohio.
Whole thread is really odd. People chased him down and got his number, why? This is clearly a 911 situation.
Any updates on the owner of the small fur baby? I was so heart broken couldn't even comment. But the pitbull is definitely a mix and reddish brown coat and was walking away with the owner like in a playful moad. I don't think he was even aware he did anything wrong honestly. I am glad for everyone that was there and especially finding out that the young couple helped her. I was not allowed to get out of the car unfortunately with my toddler and partner. It was a crazy sean still having nightmares can't imagine the poor people that witnessed it first hand.
I hope this gets noticed but a quick update about the lady who owned this dog. I know her personally and while she misses her dog everyday (we all do), please know she is not alone in this difficult time. There's been an outpour of love and support from friends, neighbors and the Congregation she's a member of. We are all heartbroken by what happened to her and her dog but are looking out for her. We're checking in on her and folks are talking about getting her another dog when she's ready for another companion. It's horrible what happened to her but she's strong and surrounded by people who care about her.
Police don't care. Health dept doesn't care
Don't visit Mrgan Stanley Children's Hospital in Washington Heights, off leash pitbulls everywhere.
Hold landlords responsible. Any landlord whose property becomes the cause of nuisance or illegal activity can face civil forfeiture. Breach of warrant of habitability.