Pit bull ‘viciously’ attacks Paterson woman and boyfriend on 14th Avenue
By Jayed Rahman
Published: September 15, 2015
A pit bull attacked a city woman and her boyfriend little after midnight on Tuesday morning on 14th Avenue, said police director Jerry Speziale.
The woman, 27, and her boyfriend, 38, were mauled by the family dog at about 12:12 a.m. at their home on 14th Avenue between East 27th and East 28th Streets, said the director.
Officers responded to the residence after the man’s 11-year-old son called 911 informing police his father was being attacked by their family dog.
14 police units responded to the scene to find the two victims had been “seriously” wounded by the dog.
“This is was an out and out vicious attack,” said the director. “The officer had to take action to save those two individuals.”
One of the officer shot and killed the animal to end the attack on the two victims, one of whom is undergoing surgery at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center as a result of the attack, said the director.
The father suffered broken ribs and was mauled in the arm, said the director. “This was a very vicious animal attack,” said Speziale.
The couple was seriously wounded from the attack, said the director. He said both of them are receiving treatment at the hospital. He said for the moment the couple’s children are in the car of grandparents.
The family attempted to get the dog off the 38-year-old man using various kitchen tools prior to police arrival without success. Speziale applauded the calm and courageous 11-year-old boy who called the police and may have saved his parents’ lives.
The director said the dog is being tested for rabies.
Nobody wants to hurt an animal, but in this case we had to take action to save the lives of two human beings, said Speziale.