The 75-year-old woman was walking her dog (a Coton de Tulear) on Florence Street on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at approximately 9 a.m., when the unleashed pit bull—whose owner lives on Jensen Avenue—began to attack her dog, according to Village of Mamaroneck (VOM) Police Spokesperson Det. Sandra DiRuzza.
As the woman attempted to separate the two dogs, she suffered several puncture wounds on her hands and the loss of one of her fingertips, said DiRuzza.
The pit bull’s owner has been charged under the Agriculture and Market Law with one count of a dangerous dog attack on a domestic animal, a violation. He is due back in VOM court on Oct. 2, said DiRuzza.
He was not charged in connection to the attack on the woman because the woman was bit while attempting to rescue her dog.
Kim Stein, who also lives on Florence Street, told Larchmont Patch that she ran outside after hearing piercing screams.
“I witnessed the owner pulling his pit bull off of the victim who was on the ground with her dog, while he was kicking and punching his pit bull. Another neighbor had also been out there. I was in full panic mode and ran back into my house to call 911,” she said.
According to Stein, the pit bull owner’s residence borders both Florence Park and is within walking distance of Daniel Warren Elementary School.
“This could have been us. We are petrified to walk our dog now. I really want to know why this dangerous pit bull is still at its residence and not impounded or taken away. I feel violated in my own neighborhood—I no longer have the freedom to feel safe on my own street,” she said.
(Larchmont Patch - September 28, 2012)
