Editor’s note: Ensuring Penny the Chihuahua ‘gets the justice she deserves’

The brutal pit bull attack of an adorable Chihuahua mix named Penny on Manhattan’s Upper West Side spurred lawmakers into action last week. The 10-year-old rescue from Puerto Rico just barely survived the May 3 mauling at 85th Street and Columbus Avenue that sent her to a pet emergency room with multiple puncture wounds, cuts and lacerations. Her attacker’s powerful jaws chomped on the pooch as bystanders tried to pry them off and got into a melee with the owners and their second pit bull. The pit bull owners left the scene with their animals and without accountability. Upper West Sider Lauren Claus, Penny’s owner – whose ex-boyfriend was walking the pet and who wasn’t present for the assault – was left with little recourse, only to figure out what happened from watching videos that went viral online.

Pets in New York state are considered property, which means Claus can follow up with a civil complaint, not a criminal one. “That dogs are considered property by the state of New York is crazy to me,” she told City & State. Recognizing this frustration, New York City Council Member Gale Brewer called a town hall on what could be done to hold the owners accountable and get their pit bulls off the street. Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal introduced legislation redefining pets as “sentient beings,” not property, and Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar introduced Penny’s Law, which would bring criminal charges when animals attack other pets. The lawmakers’ response was encouraging for Claus. “I definitely hope that the legislation passes,” she said. “That Penny gets the justice she deserves, and that all the dogs get to be safe.”