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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Montvale NJ, a tragic dog attack in Bergen County has left a small dog dead and a man injured after a German Shepherd and Pitbull got loose from a nearby property, police confirmed.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, April 16, on Raven Road in Montvale, where a man was walking his Maltese when the two larger dogs attacked.
Small Dog Killed, Owner Injured in Vicious Dog Attack
According to Montvale Police Capt. Alisha Foley and Police Chief Doug McDowell, the unleashed German Shepherd and Pitbull fatally mauled the small white dog. The man walking the Maltese suffered a hand laceration during the attack, authorities said.
“The dogs involved in the attack have been secured,” Capt. Foley confirmed. “Animal control is assisting with the ongoing investigation.”
Investigation Underway: How Did the Dogs Get Loose?
Authorities are actively investigating how the dogs escaped from their Park Ridge home prior to the attack. Officials are also working to determine if criminal or civil charges will be filed against the dog owners.
“An investigation is currently underway to determine how the dogs escaped and whether charges will be filed,” said Chief McDowell.
Animal control officers were promptly called to the scene and have taken custody of the two aggressive dogs while the case is under review.
Community on Alert After Deadly Incident
This latest attack has raised concerns among local residents about pet safety, dog control laws, and the responsibilities of pet owners.
Dog attacks in New Jersey are taken seriously, especially when they result in fatal injuries to other animals or harm to humans. Municipal laws vary, but in many cases, owners may face fines or charges of negligence depending on the findings of the investigation.
What to Do If You Witness a Dog Attack
If you see an aggressive dog off-leash or witness an attack, authorities advise you to:
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Call 911 or local animal control immediately.
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Avoid stepping between fighting dogs, but use objects or loud noises to distract them if it’s safe to do so.
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Document the incident with photos or video if possible.
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Seek medical attention for any injuries sustained.
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Inexcusible. Both dogs should be put down and the dog owner should spend some time behind bars.
Behind bars? For the accidental death of a DOG? How ridiculous.
Not every pitbull attacks, but every deadly attack leads back to a pitbull. Just google the amount of children that have died by their family pitbull in 2025 alone, just last week a baby. And a couple days ago, a dog in Santa Monica, it’s happening constantly, but not always on national news. They even attack horses regularly. Something needs to be done about this deadly dog breed.
I am the owner of the two dogs, the gate was not properly closed by a visiting friend of my 12 year old child. I did put my german shepherd down and the pit that i was fostering will be returned to the rescue group in NY .
I am devastated this happened and wish i could rewind time. But i am unable. I did try and save the dog mauled, will people who surroiunded the injured dog just video taped the dog dying. I did take the injured dog with the police officer to the closest animal hospital in hopes to save the dog. I have been a ICU nurse for over 29 years.
Its a horrible incident, and I wish it on noone.
I cannot finger point and place blame on a child for not locking a gate properly that has three locks on it, and is rarely used .. As i just came off my shift , and then this horrible accident occured.
Animal control stated that large dogs often see small dogs as “stuffed animals” and that is why she never uses stuffed animals as toys for dogs, a mistake I made. I hope others can learn from my nightmare.
Having to do Behavioral Euthanasia to a other wise Healthy dog, and to deal with the guilt.
Dont judge others without knowing the full situation. You can be the one in this situation that no oone wants to be in.
1: information on ways to keep you and your dog safe while out walking ;
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
https://petsweekly.com/dogs-101/dogs/behavior/handling-a-dog-attack-on-walk/
2: Emotional support for one losing a dog from a dog attack:
https://www.theralphsite.com/index.php?idPage=90
3: link for emotional support of person having to provide behavioral euthanasia to a other wise healthy dog :
http://WWW.LOSINGLULU.com -emotional support to the person who owns the dog who did the attacking , since it has been proven that many large dogs see small dogs as toy stuffed animals –
And they are made to euthanize a healthy young dog ( their family member) which is devastating as well .
And to not use Stuffed Animals as Toy
Sorry for your loss, and for the morons who advocate and “thumbs-up” for suggesting jail time for an accident. Sorry for these dopes on this blog, they tend to be HATEFUL. They are mostly Democrats and can’t help themselves. Blessings to you and your family.
I am the owner of the two dogs, the gate was not properly closed by a visiting friend of my 12 year old child. I did put my German shepherd down and the pit that i was fostering will be returned to the rescue group in NY .
I am devastated this happened and wish I could rewind time. Would have, could have , should have….. I did try and save the dog that was mauled, but i personally did not witness the attack.. As i assumed they were safely contained in my back yard. THere were people surrounding the injured dog and can prove my attempt to save the injured dog by taking the injured dog with a police officer to the closest animal hospital in hopes to save the dog. (I have been a ICU nurse for over 29 years. )
THe poor man who was walking the dog did what every dog owner would do, is to attempt to remove the dogs grip on his dog by putting his hand in the dogs mouth.
Its a horrible incident for all, and I wish it on no one.
I cannot finger point and place blame on a child for not locking a gate properly that has three locks on it, and is rarely used .. As i just came off my shift , and then this horrible accident occurred.
Animal control stated that large dogs often see small dogs as “stuffed animals” and that is why she never uses stuffed animals as toys for dogs, a mistake I made. I hope others can learn from my nightmare.
Having to do Behavioral Euthanasia to a other wise Healthy dog, and to deal with the guilt.
Don’t judge others without knowing the full situation. You can be the one in this situation that no one wants to be in.
1: information on ways to keep you and your dog safe while out walking ;
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
https://petsweekly.com/dogs-101/dogs/behavior/handling-a-dog-attack-on-walk/
2: Emotional support for one losing a dog from a dog attack:
https://www.theralphsite.com/index.php?idPage=90
3: link for emotional support of person having to provide behavioral euthanasia to a other wise healthy dog :
http://WWW.LOSINGLULU.com -emotional support to the person who owns the dog who did the attacking , since it has been proven that many large dogs see small dogs as toy stuffed animals –
And they are made to euthanize a healthy young dog ( their family member) which is devastating as well .