Amy Willi (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)
A 45-year-old New York woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to reckless endangerment after her dog escaped from her house and attacked a 2-year-old boy playing across the street.
On March 14, 2023, Amy Willi opened the door of her Long Island home and her dog, Kojo, got loose and dashed across the street where the “unsuspecting toddler” was playing in his front yard, said the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The boy’s uncle, who was supervising him, picked him up to protect him, but Kojo bit the man in his left forearm, causing him to drop the boy.
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Kojo then pounced on the boy, biting him in the face, head and leg. The boy suffered gashes to his right eye, cheek, scalp and leg, prosecutors said. Other family members came to the boy’s rescue and were able to get the boy to safety. They rushed him to the hospital where he received stitches to treat his injuries.
Willi admitted to cops that Kojo was a “dangerous dog with violent tendencies,” prosecutors said.
“The defendant’s dog’s dangerous tendencies coupled with her failure to properly secure the animal led to an innocent child and his uncle sustaining serious injuries,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement. “Pet owners must understand the serious responsibility that comes with owning animals. Necessary precautions pet owners must take to ensure the safety of their pets, and the community[,] include maintaining secure enclosures, using leashes in public areas, and not leaving their animals unattended where they could potentially escape. Failure to do so can lead to tragic consequences, as seen in this case.”
As part of her guilty plea to the misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge, Willi cannot own, possess or care for any animals for three years. A judge is scheduled to sentence her on Nov. 20. Her attorney did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
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