Ferocious dog kills boy in New Jersey

Image
Press Trust of India New York
Last Updated : Mar 02 2014 | 5:35 PM IST
A raging bullmastiff has killed a 13-year-old boy and wounded two others in New Jersey, forcing authorities to "humanely euthanise" the dog.
The 52-kg dog, bit a second 13-year-old boy and attacked its owner, who was forced to stab his pet to subdue it, New Jersey authorities said.
The attack occurred in the city's Hillcrest section on Friday evening when the dog, who was apparently loose, lunged at the two boys.
It bit one of the boys in the hand, then began chasing the teens, who split off in opposite directions.
The second boy was found dead at about 11 p.M., after his family reported him missing, New York Daily News reported.
His remains were found behind the Sherwood Ave. Home where neighbours said the dog lived, according to The Record.
Sometime before the dead teen was found, the dog attacked its owner, biting his hand, officials said.
The owner had to stab the dog repeatedly in order to stop the animal, according to Paterson Animal Control Officer John DeCando.
A necropsy was scheduled to see if the bullmastiff had contracted rabies before the attacks. The dog was "humanely euthanised," authorities said.
Why the dog attacked three people remained a mystery, DeCando said.
"Who knows what happened?" DeCando said. "A child is dead. And I can't comprehend that."
"The dog should have never been on the street," he said. "In 37 years, this is the worst that I've seen."
The exact cause of the teen's death was not known Saturday afternoon, Captain Heriberto Rodriguez of the Paterson Police Department said. An autopsy has been scheduled.
The dog's owner as well as the second injured boy was treated and released, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez would not release the names of the victims or the dog's owner.
The bullmastiff, while powerfully built, normally has an innate willingness to please, making them "ideal family companions and protectors," according to the American Kennel Club.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 02 2014 | 5:35 PM IST

Next Story