Schenectady dog euthanized after killing neighbor's pet

NEW YORK -- The owner of a pit-bull mix charged after a neighbor's smaller dog was killed over the weekend has voluntarily euthanized his animal, a city police spokesman said

Lt. Mark McCracken said Tuesday that the owner, Patrick O'Brien of Guilderland Avenue, provided proof to city animal control officers that Ben, his dog, had been destroyed.

The dog's death comes days after the dog mauled a black-and-white Shih Tzu named Cory in his owner's Guilderland Avenue driveway.

"It's really unfortunate, but it looks this owner immediately took responsibility instead of fighting the whole thing," Corporation Counsel Carl Falotico said Tuesday. He said O'Brien, 56, was arraigned Monday on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful behavior of a dangerous dog.

 

Sabrina Heilmann recounted Tuesday that her sister was about to take Cory for a walk around 12:30 p.m. when O'Brien's dog bolted through an open wire fence and bit into Cory's neck.

Neighbors who heard the commotion threw rocks at Ben. He wouldn't let go until O'Brien emerged from the basement, grabbed his dog, and removed the smaller dog from Ben's mouth.

O'Brien apologized and retreated to his home, Heilmann said.

Heilmann, 55, said she knew Cory, whom the family got as a puppy, was dead, but her husband, Bill, wrapped the dog in a towel and placed him inside a box before rushing Cory to the vet. The dog was dead on arrival, Heilmann said.

Cory belonged to the Heilmanns' 24-year-old daughter, Chelsea Heilmann, who is working in New Zealand. They broke the news to a heartbroken Chelsea via Skype on Sunday, Sabrina Heilmann said.

She said Ben growled a lot, and went after Cory a year ago, but O'Brien managed to pull his dog off Cory, who was not hurt.

O'Brien apologized and Heilmann did not file charges, which she said she now regrets.

Heilmann said they kept a closer eye on Cory and their beagle, Oliver. Last year, a Schenectady man who owned a French mastiff and Staffordshire terrier agreed to plea deal that called for his dogs to be destroyed after the animals killed a Niskayuna woman's terrier.

The incident prompted calls for an online alert system to notify people when a dangerous dog lives on their block. A check of the city website under dog owner information and vital statistics shows a list from 2014 of "incidents that have come to our attention involving dogs that may be of community concern."

On Monday, Councilman Vince Riggi called the attack "heartbreaking."

"It's tough enough to lose your pet without having to see it killed in front of you," Riggi said.

(Albany Times Union - Apr 14, 2015)