PSE&G Worker Uses Quick Thinking and an Umbrella to Save 9-Year-Old from Pit Bull Attack

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, a PSE&G employee’s training proved life-saving when he used an umbrella to stop a pit bull attack on a 9-year-old girl in Newark.

Paul Manzi, a longtime gas operations worker, was stopped at a red light on Mount Prospect Avenue when he saw a little girl running from a charging pit bull. A woman—later identified as the girl’s mother—was sprinting behind them, trying to intervene.

As the girl ran around a parked car, the mother tripped and fell. The dog quickly caught up to the child, knocking her to the ground. That’s when Manzi sprang into action.

Training Kicks In: The Power of an Umbrella

“I ran to the back of my truck to get a stick, and I saw the umbrella,” Manzi said. That was all he needed.

PSE&G, known for its strong safety culture, trains employees on handling various hazards—including dog encounters. Workers learned that an umbrella can be an effective deterrent against dog attacks.

When Manzi reached the girl, her mother was struggling to pull the dog away. He quickly opened the umbrella and used it as a shield.

“I was amazed that it worked,” he recalled. “I think it confuses dogs. The pit bull tried to get at me, but it couldn’t get around the umbrella.”

The distraction allowed the mother and daughter to escape behind a gated fence. The dog eventually ran off.

A Call for Help and a Lesson in Safety

Manzi called 911 after confirming the girl was injured. Newark police later reported that both the mother and daughter had been bitten, and EMTs treated them at the scene.

This wasn’t the only crisis Manzi faced that week—earlier, he shut off gas at a house fire and helped a cyclist struck by a car. As a member of the PSE&G Safety Council, he credited the company’s emphasis on preparedness for his ability to act swiftly.

“I went back to the Safety Council to tell everyone how well the umbrella worked,” he said.

PSE&G’s Safety Record

PSE&G spokeswoman Lauren Ugorji praised Manzi’s response, emphasizing the effectiveness of the company’s safety training.

“In 2024, PSE&G made over 1.5 million service calls and only had three dog attacks reported,” she said.

For comparison, the U.S. Postal Service reported 5,800 dog attacks last year.

Manzi remains humble about his actions, attributing his instinct to being a grandfather of four.

“I don’t see myself as a hero,” he said. “I just did what I was trained to do.”

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