Final Ruling on Dangerous Dogs

In a recent ruling that many are calling just, a Manhattan judge has decided that two pit bull mixes, Rambo and Zooey, should be surrendered to the city for evaluation, and possibly euthanized, after they attacked several small dogs, resulting in one death.

This decision came down from Judge Phaedra Perrybond, who stated that if Joseph Columbus, the dogs’ owner, fails to turn them over, law enforcement can intervene. The incidents include an attack on a Chihuahua named Penny in May, as well as an attack on two Shih Tzu mixes in Central Park where one was killed.

Columbus, 40, living on the Upper West Side, will be responsible for the costs associated with evaluating and training Rambo and Zooey once they are taken into “permanent” custody by the city. Additionally, he is required to reimburse Lauren Block, the owner of the Shih Tzus Grover and Chucky, approximately $22,000 for veterinary expenses.

The decision also includes a provision that “the court reserves the right to make a finding of humane euthanasia based on the evaluation made by the ACC and/or the city Health Department.”

Columbus had been evading authorities for some time, reportedly even dodging arrest by leaving his child’s school graduation unnoticed.

It was about five months after the death of Grover, a blind, 12-pound dog who suffered severe injuries from the previous attack, that the incident with Penny occurred. The judge had previously mandated that Columbus keep the dogs muzzled and on leads after the January attack, but he didn’t comply.

Attorney Molly Swears, along with Penny’s owners, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “Justice prevailed this week.”

Currently, Columbus remains unreachable. His attorney previously contended that the victims were fabricating their claims about dog bites, asserting that Columbus no longer owns Rambo.

He’s also facing possible eviction from his grandmother’s apartment on Columbus Avenue due to the incidents involving Rambo and Zooey, which reportedly created an unsafe environment for other tenants.

The landlord detailed complaints in court documents, citing significant damage caused by the dogs and the unpleasant smell resulting from their presence.

Eviction proceedings are still ongoing, and the landlord’s attorney has not responded to requests for comment.