A roving band of pit bulls got loose from a Staten Island home and injured at least three people on a biting spree on Tuesday, police said.
“A lot” of dogs were being kept in a home on York Avenue in the north shore neighborhood of New Brighton, an NYPD spokesperson said, when a number of them escaped from captivity and wandered the neighborhood on Tuesday. At least three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Richmond University Medical Center.
The NYPD has taken the owner of the dogs into custody in connection to the case, and the runaway pooches have been recaptured.
It’s as-yet unclear how many dogs were being kept in the home or why, though pit bulls have historically been and remain widely used in illegal dogfighting. It also remains unclear what will happen to the dogs: although they have exhibited dangerous behavior, New York law requires a judge to sign off on an order to have a dog euthanized.
Dogs being rescued from horrific, prison-like conditions are often placed in the care of animal rescue groups like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. An ASPCA spokesperson said the group is aware of the Staten Island incident but is awaiting a call from the NYPD to provide any assistance.
