After Penny the Chihuahua's pit bull mauling, NY should hold bad owners responsible and look to ban dangerous breeds
After an ambush by two out-of-control pit bulls sent a beloved pet to intensive care, it's time to bring New York's worst dog owners to heel — and look at banning the most dangerous breeds altogether.
Two massive pitties viciously mauled 16-pound Chihuahua Penny in an unprovoked attack, only letting go when the victim's owner pried open one dog's jaws with a cane.
Another local claims the same dogs attacked her two shih tsu mixes in January, killing one — with zero consequences, since the law doesn't hold owners accountable for their pets' behavior.
And the pit-bull owners allegedly dragged one bystander who jumped into help by the hair and trashed the phone of another who started recording — then fled the scene when the bloody attack was over.
City Councilwoman Gale Brewster and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar are working on bills to hold negligent owners criminally responsible when their dogs attack; Rajkumar's measure would also make it a crime to flee the scene.
That's a step in the right direction, but the city should look to get the most dangerous canines off the streets for good.
Some dogs are simply more likely to cause serious harm; that's why the City Housing Authority bans full- or -mixed breed Doberman Pinchers, pit bulls and Rottweilers from its properties.
In 2023, England and Wales banned breeding, selling or giving away American Bully XL dogs, which were responsible for at least six of the 10 fatal UK dog attacks in in 2022.
Of course it's not just the breed, but training dogs to fight is already illegal in New York.
Maybe the NYPD needs to look at this as a quality-of-life issue, and crack down on underground dog-fighting rings.
When pets become a menace, it's the people who need to be held accountable.
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