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ANIMAL WATCH - On May 12, 2025 CityWatchLA, discussed NYC Pit Bull Attack Sparks ‘Penny’s Law”—But Is It Necessary? Apparently a New York judge believes it is both necessary and enforceable, and the owner of the Pit Bulls involved in the savage attack on a tiny 10-lb. Chihuahua were ordered to appear in court to test it.
On May 12, 2025, CityWatchLA first discussed, NYC Pit Bull Attack Sparks ‘Penny’s Law”—But Is It Necessary? Apparently a New York judge believes it is not only necessary to stop abuse of animals,, but enforceable, and the owner of the Pit Bulls involved in the savage attack on the tiny 10-lb. Chihuahua were ordered to appear in court on with a dramatic decision by the judge.
BACKGROUND
On March 3, 2025, Penny, the Chihuahua, was enjoying a walk with her owners on a busy New York City street when a man with two Pit Bulls on leashes approached and both dogs violently attacked her.
A large crowd of people stopped and joined in a unified effort to protect Penny and save her life by kicking and hitting the dogs. One man reportedly used a cane to beat them--until she was dropped from the aggressors’ jaws--a “small bloody mass on the street.”
‘THERE’S GOT TO BE CONSEQUENCES.”
A comment published on May 7, in the NY Post , states “The savage pit bulls who mauled a Chihuahua on the Upper West Side over the weekend have been a menace in the neighborhood for months, killing one Shih Tzu mix and maiming another in January.”
Manhattan attorney Lauren Block confirmed that the same two dogs attacked her two tiny Shih Tzus on January 4, months before the attack on Penny.
Penny the chihuahua was bitten numerous times in the May attack. (Photo by Gabriella Bass)
“The guy was so brazen that he didn’t try to get the dogs off Penny, either,” My dog was totally defenseless,” she added, “I could just imagine him picking up a child and doing that. She stated that one of the Pit Bulls “was picking up Grover and shaking him like a stuffed animal.”
Upper West Side resident Lauren Block, whose Shih Tzu-mixes were attacked by the same Pit Bulls.. (Photo.Obtained by NY Post)
Joseph Columbus could be in jail until March 11, and have to pay $250 each day for flouting Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond’s June order directing him to turn over his dogs, Zooey and Rambo, to city authorities, court records show.
Columbus, 40 — who had repeatedly skipped court appearances in the case and once even fled the city sheriff in a high speed chase — was taken into custody at a Manhattan Supreme Court hearing Thursday, city Sheriff Anthony Miranda confirmed.
Penny the Chihuahua’s medical bills hit $12,000 after the attack.
“He kept saying ‘I’m not going anywhere. Back off,’ ” said Lauren Block, the Upper West Sider whose two Shih Tzu mixes, Grover and Chuckie, were attacked by Zooey and Rambo in January.
“The whole neighborhood is very happy we finally got some conclusion,” said Karen Kramer, an Upper West Side dog walker who’s been following the case. “But we’ll be much happier when the dogs are surrendered and out of his possession.”
Joseph Columbus was taken into custody after months of allegedly dodging authorities. (Credit: Luiz C. Ribeiro, New York Post)
Columbus denied having Rambo and Zooey, according to the West Side Rag.
“The Court’s order and Mr. Columbus’ imprisonment is the culmination of months of hard work,” lawyer Mollie Swears, who represents Block and Claus, said in a statement.
He’s currently facing eviction from his grandmother’s Columbus Avenue apartment — where court records showed Rambo and Zooey were accused in March of another attack that prompted the victims to flee the building.
Neighbors told the West Side Spirit Columbus frequently yelled slurs at his dogs and locked them inside for days on end.
WEAK ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS\
The NYPD representative from the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, summarized their efforts thus far: “We have put together information and presented it to the District Attorney’s Office.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the office “has opened an investigation into the attack, due to allegations that the owner of the two Pit Bulls pushed another person who was trying to stop the attack, and that after one dog attacked the Chihuahua, the owner of the Pit Bulls may have allowed the second [pit bull] to join in.”
A Department of Health official told a town hall meeting that, while the agency responds to dog bite complaints, it has no authority to enforce criminal sanctions. It’s “a very rare, lengthy, and arduous process to have someone’s pet removed,” he said.
Throughout the meeting, which included testimony of other attacks by the same two Pit Bulls, frustration continued to grow over the lack of laws surrounding dog-on-dog attacks
Dog attack on NYC's Upper West Side prompts calls for changes to laws
“You’ll file a report if someone slashes my tires, but not if my dog gets killed by another dog?” a crowd member called out at one point.” Read entire report on this meeting here .
Pit Bull Owner Arrested in Courtroom
Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond ordered Columbus to surrender the two dogs, Rambo and Zooey, in October. “You’ve taken no responsibility,” Perry-Bond said on Thursday. “My order was clear.”
Now, she also ordered Columbus to be incarcerated for 90 days, starting on Thursday, or until he complies with the court’s order.
That order requires Columbus to provide: (1) the location of the dogs, Rambo and Zooey; (2) to provide contact information for whomever has the two dogs; and (3) to surrender the dogs into the custody of New York City Animal Care and Control.
“I’ve got no dog to give,” Columbus told the court. “I’m being treated worse than a murderer or a pedophile. I want my life to come back to normal.”
“This is an extreme measure,” Columbus’ attorney, Ikiesha Al-Shabazz said of the ruling, “I’m shocked and appalled.” She told WSR on Thursday night that she was filing an immediate emergency appeal.
Among the court dates he failed to keep was one on October 22, when the judge declared the two dogs “dangerous” and ordered Columbus to surrender them within three days.
Mollie Swears, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs in the case against Columbus said, “We hope people find comfort in seeing that no one is above the law and recourse is available if you or your pet is attacked by another dog.”
“However, she added, “In my opinion, it’s also made clear that there’s room for improvement in this area. If there’s indisputable evidence that a dog seriously injures or kills another dog, it shouldn’t take six months and hundreds of hours of work by attorneys to have that dog declared dangerous.”
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee and a long-time animal welfare advocate. A contributor to CityWatchLA, she is known for her investigative reporting on animal shelter operations, misuse of public funds, and the dangers of poorly regulated pet adoption policies. She is a strong proponent of public safety in animal control, advocating for stricter oversight of aggressive dog breeds, especially pit bulls, and for breed-specific legislation.)
