More Problems with Pit Bulls — And Their Owners
Remembering the encounter we had last December in Fort Greene Park with a pit bull, a reader sent in this harrowing tale: “A guy was walking down my block the other night with his pit bull–and the dog (while on the leash) attacked a cat that lives across the street and tore it to pieces…
Remembering the encounter we had last December in Fort Greene Park with a pit bull, a reader sent in this harrowing tale: “A guy was walking down my block the other night with his pit bull–and the dog (while on the leash) attacked a cat that lives across the street and tore it to pieces in front of several witnesses,” she writes. “The police were called–arrived and did…nothing. They said unless it was a person nothing could be done.” That’s what we were told at the time as well. Seems crazy. What would someone be charged with for shooting a cat with a gun? Same thing, ain’t it?
The ASPCA has an investigative unit that handles cases like this. They need as much info as possible, pictures of the owner and dog, address, etc and they will stake out the area until they get him. Same thing happened on my block.
Sorry to rain on your party, guys, and especially Col. Autin, but you’re citing the wrong section of the law. § 107 of the Agriculture and Markets Law says:
“1. This article [i.e., including § 121] shall apply to all areas of the state except any city having a population of over two million except that the provisions in this article relating to the animal population control program shall be applicable to the entire state [emphasis added].”
In other words, the law applies everywhere in New York State EXCEPT New York City. New York City has its own, much weaker, law, NYC Code § 17-343 ff, which limits this dog owner’s recourse to complaining to the NYC Health Commissioner, who can order a hearing. So in NYC, the police don’t have to do anything; and if you go after the attacking dog, its owner can sue you and might win. There apparently were legislative efforts to strengthen New York City’s law a few years before the § 121 was amended in, I think, 2004, but they came to nought.
I suspect that in restricting this law to areas outside of NYC, the state legislature may have reasoned that NYC already had a perfectly good leash law that was already enforced. But that was before the days of official “off-leash†hours and widespread flouting of the leash law at other times. And the dog here was on-leash anyway. So the cops were right.
Everything has been said except what I think
The whole “incident” never happened; it makes no sense (the dog is on a leash and kills a cat – what was the cat drunk or stoner or something?? Cats are fast, smart and tough and it aint getting killed by a dog on a leash unless the dog leash is dropped)
This is an example of Brownstoner hearing some BS story and running with it because 1. it fits in with is stupid anti-pitbull agenda and 2. It will get huge traffic for his site.
Picture or it didnt happen
chosen, take a look at the thread re the car chase in greenpoint
Rob, are you reading this? A career change awaits…and your student loans will be history.
“I’d put him through the academy and assign him to Park Slope for the entertainment value alone.”
Cool. You’re the 5-0 expert, not me (although my Dad was a correction officer, his friends were mostly cops and I have a cousin who is a warden in upstate NY). If you’re complaining NOW how cops are characterized, wait until you get Rob in blue. It’s going to be pretty funny.
And ENY, I have been with Brownstoner since day one. I have read many of *robs* posts. I find him quite amusing. I’d put him through the academy and assign him to Park Slope for the entertainment value alone.
“unless you want cops who drink 40s and spend a large part of their off time bean-bagging.”
Ironically I read at least six posts on this thread alone saying that cops are lazy and at least two that said that they didn’t want to do paperwork maybe two or three saying that they didn’t think animal calls were important enough. According to you guys Rob should fit right in.
What’s “bean bagging”?
Chosen- just know there are a lot of us who appreciate the job you do everyday.