STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island saw nearly 1,000 dog attacks between 2015 and 2017 -- the highest rate in New York City during that span when adjusted for population size.

Per 100,000 residents, Staten Island saw a jarring 199 attacks in the two-year-window, according to Department of Health and Census data.

The second closest borough is Manhattan at 144 attacks, followed by the Bronx at 127 attacks and Queens at 112 attacks. Brooklyn has the least attacks per 100,000 residents at 91, data shows.

That leaves the New York City average between 2015 and 2017 at almost 120 attacks per 100,000 residents, far short of Staten Island’s nearly 200-attack rate in the same span.

The numbers indicate a striking trend, and expose the dangers that face Staten Islanders.

And what the numbers don’t show, video reveals.

In a spate of recent incidents, disturbing surveillance video showed a family’s beloved dog mauled and killed by a passing pit bull.

In another incident, a pair of loose dogs attacked a woman and her two pets in her backyard; one of the dogs barreled its way into her home where she was forced to fight it on her kitchen floor.

Last year, two attacks in Sunnyside by the same dog left multiple people and dogs injured. The Department of Health confirmed that the owner of the dog signed a stipulation with the agency that included mandating the dog be neutered (if not already), vaccinated for rabies, licensed (if not already), receive obedience training, and be leashed and muzzled in public.

As striking as these videos are, they have not yet been counted in the most recent and aforementioned data set -- which encompasses attacks up to 2017 -- indicating that the issue is far from decreasing in severity on Staten Island.

With 931 reported attacks during the time frame of 2015 to 2017, Staten Island saw an alarming amount of incidents based on population, but the common denominator in these attacks for all five boroughs is they are led by a single classification of dog: Pit bulls.

Pit bulls account for 211 attacks on Staten Island between 2015 and 2017 -- the next leading breed is German shepherds at 42, according to Department of Health data.

Below that, no breed exceeds 35 attacks in the two-year span on Staten Island, Department of Health Data shows.

The 211 reported pit bull attacks account for well over 20% of the total attacks on our borough.

The numbers paint a striking picture of a type of dog often criticized for being the leading culprit of such incidents.

Generally speaking, the classification “pit bull” usually encompasses several breeds of dog, including American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, American bully and Staffordshire bull terrier.

And the numbers are consistent among all five boroughs. Pit bulls lead each borough in attacks, Department of Health data shows, and no other breed remotely comes close.

Citywide, pit bulls account for 19% of total attacks; Shih Tzus come in a distant second at 4%. While the data accounts for instances where breeds weren’t specified, the disparity between pit bulls and the second-highest named breed is significant.

BLAME THE OWNER, NOT THE BREED

The breeds themselves are also a vital element in the extent of injuries caused in individual attacks, according to Jonathan D’Agostino, president and founder of the D’Agostino and Associates law firm in Eltingville, which specializes in such cases.

“We’re never going to blame the breed because it really comes down to the dog owner,” D’Agostino said, “but there are some dogs that can cause more damage than others.”

Based on some of the most serious attacks on Staten Island over the past decade and beyond, the damage pit bulls cause could be significant.

However, advocates for the dogs maintain such statistics aren’t a fair indicator of their demeanor.

Michael Favor, the founder of Pitbulls and Addicts, said that pit bull attacks are disproportionally reported because of the severity of the injuries they can cause.

“When the smaller dogs are attacking, they’re not getting reported,” Favor said.

He stated that these smaller dogs are less likely to cause injuries and therefore are not represented in the Department of Health statistics.

Favor, who believes that the breed is “misunderstood,” said that the perception of pit bulls is skewed because of the frequency of the reports against them, along with the representation of the dogs in popular media.

Ultimately, Favor said that it is the responsibility of the owner to not put a pet in a “predicament where the dog could lash out," as many rescue dogs that have been “neglected and abused” could potentially become aggressive.

“Hopefully people see in the near future that it’s not the breed. It’s the humans,” Favor said.

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