Stemming from the Friday, June 6 dog attack in Riverside Park — where an off-leash brown Pit Bull named Juliette mauled a 13-year-old Shih Tzu–Chihuahua mix — ILTUWS has received confirmation that Juliette was euthanized on Friday.
“After careful consideration, we have determined that the dog involved in the June 6 incident poses a significant safety risk to people and other animals,” read a statement from an Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) spokesperson, shared with ILTUWS. “Unfortunately, due to the severity of the aggression and the danger she presents, we have made the difficult decision that she is not a candidate for placement.”
Advertisement
The ACC added, “While these decisions are never easy, our responsibility is to ensure the safety of the public, our staff, and the animals in our care.” Juliette’s owner, who is allegedly homeless, had the opportunity to reclaim the dog but never did — a factor that ultimately led to Juliette’s euthanasia.
“I have to say, this is a devastating outcome for me. I’m extremely sad Juliette was put into this situation,” Jennifer Busse, the Shih Tzu–Chihuahua’s owner, wrote in an email to ILTUWS on Tuesday. “It’s just so unfair and extremely sad,” the Upper West Sider added, as rumors began circulating that Juliette might have already been euthanized.
Busse went on to say she feels the system for people managing their pets is broken, before closing with: “Anyway, at this point I’m now advocating for Forrest and Juliette. This should never have been possible to begin with.”
ILTUWS spoke with Busse on Friday after receiving confirmation of Juliette’s passing. Busse, a mother of two daughters aged 6 and 8, who witnessed the horrifying attack on their dog Forrest, described how she fought to protect Forrest by performing jaw thrusts and preventing Juliette from shaking her dog — a movement that could have broken Forrest’s neck.
Jennifer Busse fighting for the life of her dog Forrest
Advertisement
In our original breaking story, Busse said of the park employee, “She needs, like, a medal of honor or something — she was such a boss.”
When asked how her daughters have been coping since the attack on their pet, Busse, who works in anesthesia, said she’s fortunate to have colleagues at work who have been advising her on how to handle the aftermath. Her girls, she said, do not want to go back to the park.
“They’re like child psychiatrists and said it’s not critical to tell them that the dog is dead,” Busse explained. Instead, they suggested using phrasing like, ‘She’s not going to come back and hurt you.’
“But they’re little, you know, six and eight. I think they’re young enough to just say, ‘Okay, well, my mom says it’s okay, so I can trust her,’” Busse said sensitively. “I didn’t feel like it was necessary to tell them — I think it would actually make them really sad.”
Today, Busse said the news brings her some closure, though she tries not to dwell on the attack, knowing it could send her spiraling into a rabbit hole of what-ifs.
“Like, if we hadn’t gone to the park that day, this wouldn’t have happened… It’s easy to relive these sorts of things — they’re traumatic. But you can’t live like that. You’ve got to put it in the hurt locker and move on. You have to. There’s no other choice.”
Advertisement
Busse also thanked Shula Puder, chief of staff to City Councilmember Gale Brewer. ILTUWS had been in contact with Brewer’s office since our original story published, and a spokesperson confirmed they had already been actively working on the matter. On Friday, when ILTUWS alerted Brewer’s office to the news about Juliette, Councilmember Brewer issued the following statement:
“My goal is to improve the way city government responds to dog attacks and prevents them from happening again. New Yorkers need a straightforward way to report incidents, and the city agencies involved — the Department of Health and the NYPD — must respond in a coordinated manner and communicate with victims. My role in recent incidents has been facilitating communication between all parties and, at the same time, pursuing legislation to formalize the process.”
In May, a Chihuahua named Penny was violently attacked by a Pit Bull on Columbus Avenue — an incident that led to the introduction of a proposed state bill known as “Penny’s Law,” which would hold negligent dog owners criminally accountable for their pets’ actions. The attack brought renewed attention to the issue of dangerous dog incidents citywide. On June 13, a warrant was issued for Joe Columbus, the owner of the two Pit Bulls involved, Rambo and Zooey. The warrant remains outstanding. Columbus was ordered to surrender both dogs or face potential jail time.
“These kinds of things happen, but hopefully people will sort of take them seriously and say, you know, even though I have this animal and am mostly responsible, some people just say whatever, those are the moments when the bad things can happen,” said Busse.
We got an update on Forrest, too. We’re told the little guy is settling down and is now on fewer medications. He’s still blind in his right eye, but he’s not letting it slow him down — and we hear he’s even started playing with the two daughters again.
Have a news tip? Send it to us here!
It is irresponsible for dog owners not to restrain their dogs with leashes. It’s the law. Many of these attacks would not happen if dog owners kept their dogs on leashes. Having dogs off the leash is not only dangerous to people and other dogs, but to the off the leash dogs as well who get lost or hit by cars. Leash laws must be enforced.
Agreed, however very few laws are enforced in this city.
Some dogs can be off leash safely, it comes down to control, training, and if you know your animal. I had a Cane Corso who I never leashed, never had to leash. never ran off, sit and stayed, not interested in other people or animals. She never even played with other animals in the park, preferring to stay by my side instead. My Pitbull mix on the other hand, can never be off leash and I actually walk him with a gentle lead in case he lunges, he’s been better these last few years, but he was super aggressive for a while. my point is. some dogs can be off leash.
Agreed! We need Parks Enforcement to do their jobs and TICKET off-leash dog owners. I’ve seen off-leash dogs knock over kids, seniors, get into squabbles with other dogs, (and also leave their poops and their owners never clean up).
We need enforcement!
I am wondering how they got this done so quickly when the a-holes with the pit bulls who nearly killed Penny the chihuahua are still at large with their dogs?
“Juliette’s owner, who is allegedly homeless, had the opportunity to reclaim the dog but never did — a factor that ultimately led to Juliette’s euthanasia.” That, I’d say, explains the dog half of the question, leaving the fate of the homeless(?) owner an open mystery.
As for Joe Columbus, I’d like to think his reported panic attacks are ongoing.
The FATAL ATTACK RATE in Miami was so high, the city government banned PITBULLS from the city.
I’ve been a forever dog owner, I’ve hitchhiked across the country, hopped a freight train, motorcycled and climbed several fairly technical 14’ers with dogs. I tell you this to substantiate my position- and Miami’s- on Pitties. You don’t need a pit bull for protection or to do your crack deals. If your libido is so desperate, get a facial scar and go to the gym. Let’s BAN THE BREED from NYC!
90% of dog bites I saw come through the ED are from pit bulls. however, It is not their fault. humans bred them to be aggressive, it’s our fault. Instead of banning them from places, a moratorium needs to be put on the breed. which means all pit bulls should be spayed and neutered and heavy fines for those caught owning an intact pit bull or selling pit bull puppies.
Absolutely. Pit bulls were bred for a cruel purpose. There is no need for them.
Lol. Thanks boxcar Willie.
Unleashed dogs are the biggest problem in our parks. As a dog owner of a reactive dog, we never have our dog off-leash, yet owners still let their dogs come running up to ours. We’ve seen off-leash dogs get into squabbles with other dogs, knock over kids, seniors, and do their poops in areas where their owners never pick up (because they are too far away to see it).
If NYC Parks Enforcement would do their jobs and actually TICKET off-leash dog owners, we would all be in a better place.