Owner of Aggressive Pit Bulls Arrested After Series of Attacks

The owner of two aggressive pit bulls responsible for multiple attacks on the Upper West Side has been apprehended.

Joseph Columbus faces the possibility of staying in jail until March 11 and is required to pay $250 daily for flouting a court order from June that mandated he surrender his dogs, Zooey and Rambo, to city officials, as per court documents.

Columbus, 40, had a history of missing court dates and once evaded authorities during a high-speed chase. He was arrested during a Manhattan Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, as confirmed by Sheriff Anthony Miranda.

Witness Lauren Block recounted the incident, stating that Columbus told people to “stay back.” In January, his dogs attacked two Shih Tzu mixes named Grover and Chucky.

Block, along with Devon Allen and Lauren Clouse, whose Chihuahua, Penny, was injured in a similar incident, filed a lawsuit against Columbus in May.

As a result of the legal proceedings, Block will receive funds from Columbus, covering about $22,000 in veterinary expenses after the attack that killed her blind 17-year-old dog, Grover, and harmed Chucky. She plans to donate the money to an animal shelter.

“I might not be wealthy, but it feels good to do something in Grover’s memory; he was the sweetest dog you could imagine,” she expressed.

Dog walker Karen Kramer, who has been following the case closely, remarked, “The entire neighborhood is relieved to see some progress, but we’d prefer it even more if the dogs were taken from his possession for good.”

Reportedly, Columbus has denied having Rambo and Zooey, claiming in court that Rambo is with his cousin and Zooey belongs to his ex-girlfriend.

He expressed feeling unjustly treated, saying, “I’ve been treated worse than a murderer or a pedophile. I want my life back.”

Molly Swears, an attorney for those affected, stated, “This court order and Columbus’ arrest are the result of extensive efforts over several months.”

Columbus is also facing eviction from his grandmother’s apartment due to these issues. Additionally, Rambo and Zooey are implicated in another incident from March that led to panic among the residents of their building.

A neighbor noted that Columbus often yelled at his dog and kept it indoors for extended periods. As of now, his attorney has not provided any comments on the matter.