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Pit Bull Attacks 1-Year-Old in Union Square as Bystanders Rescue the Child

The viral footage has intensified questions over owner responsibility under New York’s dog‑injury liability law.

Overview

  • The attack occurred around 11:10 a.m. Sunday outside a Santander Bank in Union Square, according to police and the video.
  • Medics took the boy to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue with multiple leg lacerations, where he was listed in stable condition.
  • Footage shows the child’s mother pleading for 911 as several bystanders kicked the dog, put it in a headlock, and forced it to release by grabbing its hind area.
  • The owner is seen not immediately restraining the animal and later sitting nearby with the dog, and no arrests or charges have been reported.
  • The widely shared clip on social media has prompted discussion of liability, with state law holding owners responsible for medical or veterinary costs when their dog injures someone.