NYPD cops were forced to shoot and kill a pit bull that fatally mauled its owner in the Bronx early Friday, officials said. The officers were called to the Simpson St. apartment near Home St. in Morrisania at about 3:10 a.m. where they found the dog latched onto its 41-year-old owner’s throat. The dog, named Max, also bit his owner’s leg. Both cops opened fire on the dog, killing the animal, cops said. EMS rushed the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The responding officers were treated for tinnitus. This incident is still under investigation.
Officers shot at the dog multiple times in an attempt to get the dog off of the man. Currently, it is unclear if the man was shot by police during this incident. The dog’s teeth likely pierced the man’s jugular resulting in rapid blood loss. Sources report that the man was gushing blood. The victim’s name has not been released yet, as police have not notified the family. The vaccination status of the dog has not been verified. The exact breed of the dog has not been released.
Dogs are usually “triggered” into aggressive behavior; an attack is a fear response. When dogs are not properly socialized or are victims of animal abuse, they are more likely to bite. Negative reinforcement for bad behavior, such as striking the animal, often leads to pent-up aggression and fear.
Ethical owners of bully breeds are almost always champions for the breed and show the world that pit bulls are loving family pets that are gentle and friendly with children, the elderly, and everyone else. Dog training experts and scientists agree that aggressive behavior is generally learned by the dog as a result of abusive treatment or poor training, and not due to a specific breed. Any breed of dog can develop a violent reaction to negative stimuli, from a small Chihuahua to the Great Pyrenees.
“Pit bull” is an umbrella term for many recognized breeds that fall under the bully category. Breeds include the American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bulldog. Any dog recognized as a “pit bull” can be any one of these breeds or a mix of breeds.
