New York: Man, 77, details harrowing pit bull attack that killed beloved Chihuahua

NEW YORK -- Eugene Charles is recovering from bite wounds suffered while trying to save the life of his beloved chihuahua, who was fatally mauled in a horrific attack by a pit bull near a school in Grant City.

Eugene, 77, who stands 6'2" tall and weighs 215 pounds, and his 10-pound chihuahua, Charlie, were no match for the 85-pound pit bull that charged out from behind a nearby home with "anger in his eyes," according to Eugene's wife, Anne.

 

Eugene Charles of Grant City sustained wounds after
his dog was mauled to death by a pit bull.
(Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)

"Charlie lasted maybe two minutes, that was it," Eugene said. "The pit bull was thrashing Charlie back and forth like he was a little rag doll. He just ripped Charlie apart."

Bandages on Eugene's hands covered deep puncture wounds suffered when the Grant City man unsuccessfully tried to force open the pit bull's jaws that had a death-grip on Charlie. After failing to release the teeth by hitting, grabbing and pulling the pit bull's jaws, Eugene said he put his hands inside its mouth.

"I just got my hands all chewed up," Eugene said.

Eugene Charles of Grant City and his wife Anne are
pictured in front of their Grant City home after he
sustained wounds as his dog was mauled to death
by a pit bull.
(Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)

The loss of Charlie is particularly devastating to the couple since they brought the pooch home about five years ago to help during the grieving process after their son, Gary, 43, died in 2011 following heart surgery.

"I feel like we're reliving the whole thing again," Anne said of that tough time in their lives.

Their only consolation is that the attack could have been much worse because it happened at North Railroad and Midland avenues as children and parents were walking and driving to St. Christopher's School on Tuesday morning.

"It was horrifying," Anne said. "The scary thing is this is a school district. The kids were walking up the street to go to the school. All I could think about this is, what if it was a child?"

RIP little Charlie

The tragic episode began while Eugene and Charlie were on their way back home from their usual 7:15 a.m. walk. Only about a block from home, they were walking on North Railroad Avenue as they began crossing Midland Avenue at the corner.

Eugene was watching for traffic when he spotted the pit bull running from behind his owner's house and out through the driveway onto North Railroad Avenue, he said.

Scooping up Charlie, Eugene said he was able escape the first two lunges by the pit bull. But on the third try, the dog manged to lock his jaws around Charlie's midsection and hind legs, the man said.

The pit bull knocked Eugene, who still was holding Charlie, to the ground and dragged and rolled them over the asphalt.

The larger dog wouldn't let go of Charlie until he was dead, even though Good Samaritans and the pit bull's owners ran over and tried to restrain the animal, Eugene said.

Eugene, who said he also suffered puncture wounds on his forearms and injuries to his shoulders and knees from being dragged, was taken by ambulance to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze.

The couple filed a report with the NYPD.

"These dogs should be banned from communities with children," Anne said of pit bulls.

(SILive - May 18, 2016)