Off-Leash Dog Attacks Montclair Man In South Mountain Reservation: Police

An allegedly off-leash pit bull attacked a Montclair man walking his dog at South Mountain Reservation on Monday, authorities reported.

The incident took place around 1 p.m. as the adult victim was walking with his leashed German Shepard in the county-owned park, according to a spokesman from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

And that’s when an allegedly unleashed pit bull came lunging at him, the man told police.

According to police, the man said that he and his dog managed to fight off the pit bull, but not before suffering a serious injury to his finger.

Emergency responders transported the man to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

The pit bull’s owner, a 28-year-old Kearny resident, was issued a summons for failure to keep his dog on a leash. His dog was taken to the Livingston Animal Shelter, where it will remain under a 10-day observation, police stated.

According to the Essex County Parks website, unleashed dogs are prohibited except in “designated areas.”

Violations are punishable by a written summons or fines up to $1,000.

• See related article: Montclair Family Terrified When Their Dog Is Attacked In Mills Reservation

PIT BULLS AND AGGRESSION

“There is no room for human aggression in a behaviorally sound pit bull, and the reality is that most pit bulls are not aggressive toward people; many are extremely sociable and adore children,” PetFinder.com states.

“It is reported on tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society that pit bulls had a passing rate of 82 percent or better - compared to only 77 percent of the general dog population,” PitBullLovers.com asserts.

The ASCPA states on its website:

“Today’s pit bull is a descendant of the original English bull-baiting dog - a dog that was bred to bite and hold bulls, bears and other large animals around the face and head. When baiting large animals was outlawed in the 1800s, people turned instead to fighting their dogs against each other. These larger, slower bull-baiting dogs were crossed with smaller, quicker terriers to produce a more agile and athletic dog for fighting other dogs.

“Some pit bulls were selected and bred for their fighting ability. That means that they may be more likely than other breeds to fight with dogs. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be around other dogs or that they’re unpredictably aggressive. Other pit bulls were specifically bred for work and companionship. These dogs have long been popular family pets, noted for their gentleness, affection and loyalty. And even those pit bulls bred to fight other animals were not prone to aggressiveness toward people.

“The reality is that dogs of many breeds can be selectively bred or trained to develop aggressive traits. Therefore the responsible ownership of any dog requires a commitment to proper socialization, humane training and conscientious supervision.

“All dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals. Treating them as such, providing them with the care, training and supervision they require, and judging them by their actions and not by their DNA or their physical appearance is the best way to ensure that dogs and people can continue to share safe and happy lives together.”

See the ASPCA’s full position statement on pit bulls here.

File photo of the South Mountain Reservation dog park via Essex County, NJ