WATCH ABOVE: The Neira family wanted to rescue Alex from euthanization, but once the dog was brought home, things took a turn for the worse. Jenny Sung explains.
It was an act of kindness turned on its head.
A Long Island family rescued a pit bull mix named Alex 22 minutes before he was scheduled to be euthanized on Sunday.
Stephen Neira, 40, brought Alex home to his wife and three children who were excited to foster the dog after helping save a lost dog in their neighbouhood a few days before.
“He seemed really excited to be in this big beautiful backyard,” Neira told Global News. He had put Alex on a leash to walk around their yard on recommendation from the rescue agency. Alex tugged a bit, but responded to commands to stop.
He then let the dog off its leash to let it run around.
Neira’s three children, watching from behind a sliding glass door, asked him to let the dog in and when he did, it suddenly lunged at his 16-year-old daughter Briana, wounding her in the face, neck and arm.
“With no hesitation he just lunged at her. With no warning. From that point on it felt like life or death. It was incredibly hard,” said Neira.
Neira said he dragged Alex off his daughter and into the backyard by putting the dog into a chokehold. Believing Alex was subdued, he let go, only to be faced with another attack.
Hearing the screams, next-door neighbour Bill Samulik ran over to help and opened up his gate to allow Neira to escape, fencing in Alex in the Neira’s backyard.
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Alex was eventually tranquilized with two darts by animal control and brought to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter.
According to the shelter, they have a 10-day waiting policy once an animal has bitten a human to test it for rabies before it is euthanized.
Alex was put down the same day because the shelter allegedly could not calm him down.
Briana, who underwent surgery to repair her lip, was released from the hospital Tuesday and is recovering, but the entire family is traumatized.
“We’re going to seek family counselling. I’m a grown man. I’ve been in the military and it has hit me harder than anything. We’re still in shock from it,” said Neira, adding that his family will “try desperately to move on.”
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The dog’s documentation had conflicting information about its background, saying it was both a stray and that it had been brought in wearing a muzzle by its previous owner.
A spokesperson from the Animal Care Centers of NYC said Alex was tested using the ASPCA SAFER method, which is widely used to “determine suitability into different placement environments.”
“While in the shelter, Alex did not show any signs that would indicate a propensity for unprovoked aggression,” the spokesperson told Global News in an email. “Alex did show some concern regarding barrier frustration and barking at other dogs.”
Because of this behaviour, Alex was transferred to New Hope Rescue Partner, an agency that brought in Caroline All Breed Rescue Vermont to help find a forever home for him.
Neira said he isn’t clear on what processes Alex went through before they brought him home, and will seek legal help before taking action.
“I have every intention of tracking this situation down and finding the rules of engagement of adopting and fostering an animal,” said Stephen, calling the whole process “haphazard.”
Neira is in disbelief that Alex was allowed to be taken into a home with children and is hoping to save another family any pain.
“I’m on a mission to save somebody else the anguish. How could an animal like this be put so easily into a home?”
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