On July 1, 2008, two pit bulls mauled Henry Piotrowski, 90, on Staten Island, New York, in the victim's own yard. Three of his limbs had to be amputated. "They ate him," said a witness. "They consumed this man." The owner of the dogs, James McNair, 28, is now facing second-degree assault charges. (Click here to read the story.)
On July 3, 2008, Frantz Cesar, a 24-year-old New York man, purposefully unleashed his pit bull dog in a room where five children were sleeping. The dog mauled a 3-year-old boy -- his ear was torn off and his jaw was ripped open. Cesar laughed when he saw the boy's injuries. As of this writing, charges have not been filed. (To read the story, click here.)
The courts of New York have consistently ruled in favor of dog owners over the rights of dog bite victims. The state's highest court has even said that there is no such thing as dog owner negligence. Lawmakers need to be pressured to adopt a well-balanced strict liability law, such as the Model Dog Bite Statute.
