💔 Mauled in the Street: Little Percy Screamed in Pain as Pit Bull Crushed His Ribs — And No One’s Been Held Responsible 🐾😭
A peaceful morning walk turned into a nightmare of blood and screams for Percy, a sweet 17-pound Jack Russell mix, after he was violently attacked by a pit bull that burst through a broken fence in Astoria, Queens.
On July 3, Percy’s owner, David Baldwin, was walking his beloved dog near Broadway Avenue and 42nd Street when a tan-and-white pit bull jumped the fence of a nearby yard and latched onto Percy’s small body — clamping down on his ribs and refusing to let go.
Captured on harrowing surveillance footage, Baldwin can be seen screaming for help, desperately kicking at the dog to save his companion.
“Eventually, I got away, and my dog was bleeding, and I was bleeding and crying and screaming,” Baldwin recalled.
Percy was rushed to the ICU, where he spent three days receiving emergency care, including surgery and medication. He suffered multiple broken ribs, deep wounds, and trauma that still haunts him. The vet bill totaled over $8,000 — but the emotional toll has been far worse.
“He still trembles when he hears the sounds from the attack video,” Baldwin said. “He’s traumatized.”
Tragically, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Several neighbors say the same pit bull has attacked other dogs in recent months. In April, Samuel Gutierrez’s dog, Stella the Shiba Inu, was bitten in the groin and back, leaving her unable to walk for weeks and requiring $3,000 in vet care.
“I had to tackle the pit bull to the ground while my dog was bleeding out,” Gutierrez said. “It could’ve been my face. Or a child next time.”
Despite 12 city complaints about the property — including unleashed dogs and neglect — and a citation issued a year ago to repair the fence, the yard remains unsecured. The same fence bears an ominous sign:
“You may be in danger of losing your teeth and not realize it!”
Baldwin tried to report the attack to police, but was told there was nothing they could do since it was “just a dog-on-dog” incident.
“They tossed the paper in the trash and told me to sue,” he said, stunned.
A bill known as “Penny’s Law” is currently in the New York State Legislature, aiming to make dog-on-dog attacks punishable under criminal law — especially in cases of repeated aggression and owner negligence.
“My dog’s in pain. I’m in pain. But what if next time, it’s a toddler?” Baldwin said. “We know where the dog is. We know the fence is broken. And still—nothing is done.”
💔 Percy survived — but barely. If stronger laws and action don’t follow, the next victim might not be so lucky. 🐶