Residents of a Coney Island apartment complex say two aggressive pit bulls have been terrorizing their building for months—killing one small dog, injuring two others, and leaving pet owners afraid to even walk outside.
The most recent attack happened Sunday morning at the Coney Island Commons, when Diane Bradley’s French bulldog, Calypso, was suddenly snatched by one of the pit bulls just outside the building.
“It grabbed her by the head and shook her around like a rabbit,” Bradley, 56, told The Post. “I was pulling on the leash so hard to get Calypso out of his mouth that it snapped. I fell to the floor and begged the porter to get my husband.”
Her husband, Derrick, rushed to help, pulling one of the dogs off while the pit bulls’ owner punched the other to make it release Calypso. Video footage obtained by The Post appears to show the owner striking one of his dogs in the aftermath.
Calypso survived but suffered serious injuries, including deep bite wounds, stitches, and a swollen eye. The Bradleys have filed a police report.
This latest mauling was the third known attack involving the same dogs since May.
In June, pet owner Latoya Nunn said her bichon frise, Denim, was killed when the pit bulls attacked during a Juneteenth community event. “We are fearful,” Nunn said. “We don’t feel safe walking our dogs. It’s horrible.”
Nunn said she believes Denim sacrificed herself to protect her. “If I had held her in my arms, that dog could’ve attacked me. It was bloody and horrible,” she recalled. Denim died later at an animal hospital.
Another resident, Leshia Palmer, said her teenage daughter was walking their dog, Milo, in May when the same two pit bulls charged. “Their leashes were lying on the ground, and they just bolted,” Palmer said. “My daughter tried to pull Milo in but had to let go.” Milo suffered multiple bite wounds, including one on her neck.
The company managing the complex, ELH Mgmt. LLC, said in an email that it began eviction proceedings against the pit bulls’ owner on Tuesday. “The safety and well-being of our residents and their pets are our top priorities,” a spokesperson said. “We have initiated legal proceedings against the tenant and are taking this matter very seriously.”
When The Post visited the dog owner’s apartment, no one answered the door, though barking could be heard inside.
Residents say they are frustrated by the slow pace of action. In New York, disputes over dangerous animals often end up in civil court, leaving limited options for neighbors demanding protection.
“These dogs are out of control,” Nunn said. Palmer added, “Those two dogs should have been gone. How many more attacks are we going to allow before someone gets killed?”