A disturbing incident occurred in Union Square when a man approached a woman and her son walking their dog, and stabbed the animal. The owner, Ollie Naishi, revealed on Saturday that their 1-year-old Bernadoodle, named Hazel, requires emergency surgery after the attack.
On Friday evening around 7 p.m., while they were returning home from Bread Bakery, an unknown man shouted something to them. The dog was stabbed in the rear as they were near the intersection of 14th Street and Union Square West.
“He stabbed Hazel in the butt,” Elijah, Naishi’s young son, recalled. “She didn’t do anything. We were just walking when he yelled something—maybe ‘You idiot’?”
Immediately after the attack, the boy and his mother described the assailant as grinning and brandishing a knife.
“Initially, I thought it was an e-cigarette,” said the 13-year-old, explaining how he discerned it was a knife with a distinctive pink sheath and black blade. “It looked larger than a pocket knife but not like a kitchen knife.”
Elijah tried to pursue the man but returned upon his mother’s worried call.
“I was screaming, ‘No, no, Elijah, come back!'” Naishi shared, clearly shaken. “I thought he would stab me, but he didn’t.”
rushed back to their building’s lobby, where Hazel was bleeding significantly. “There was blood everywhere,” Naishi said.
The doorman swiftly provided them paper towels while neighbors helped transport Hazel to the Blue Pearl Pet Hospital for urgent care.
“I’m really shocked,” Naishi expressed. “We’re fortunate he didn’t harm us, but it’s incomprehensible—who stabs a dog?”
Such a senseless act leaves many questions. “Why would someone attack an innocent animal?” she pondered. “I guess because they’re capable of it.”
It took the police about two hours to arrive after they called 911. “It feels like there are hardly any police officers in the city anymore,” Naishi said, though she did appreciate the officers’ kindness when they finally arrived.
After a lengthy surgery, Hazel returned home early Saturday morning. She’s now recovering with a drainage tube and a bandage, and her owners anticipate a three-month healing process.
With pet insurance in place, the family has already covered $3,200 for her care.
Joe Shelinsky, Hazel’s father, conveyed a message to the attacker: “Help me”. “She’s our first dog and she brings us so much joy,” he shared.
Authorities have confirmed they are looking into the matter.
