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NEW YORK - A 90-YEAR-OLD man had three of his limbs amputated following a brutal attack in his own yard by two neighbouring pit bulls on Tuesday, authorities said on Wednesday.
The attack on Mr Henry Piotrowski occurred at about 11 am outside his Staten Island home.
Witnesses said the two dogs, named Popeye and Brutus, savagely mauled the man, tearing his limbs, before a neighbour, Mr Reginald Bell, grabbed a knife, scared the dogs off and called police.
'They ate him,' Mr Bell later told reporters, adding: 'They consumed this man.'
Police said the dogs have been euthanised and their owner, identified as James McNair, 28, of Staten Island, has been arrested and charged with two counts of unleashed dogs, two counts of no collar or tags on a dog and possession of fireworks.
He also faces second-degree assault charges.
Meanwhile, Mr Piotrowski remains in critical condition at North Richmond University Hospital, fighting for his life.
One witness told a local radio station that the attack was like 'lions attacking a gazelle'.
McNair is expected to be arraigned on Thursday morning.
Local residents said the dogs' owner should be held responsible.
"The dogs are their responsibility. And you're putting people in harm's way and I believe that they should be held accountable for whatever that dog does,' said a local.
"These are dangerous dogs," said another. "They shouldn't be allowed to be free and run around like this."
But, McNair's friend, Mr Anthony Mahoney, feels the dogs, Brutus and Popeye, must have been provoked to attack like they did.
"I knew the dogs. I didn't know them long, I just met them recently, but from when I met them, they were nice and friendly," said Mr Mahoney. "They didn't try and harm anybody.'
The dogs were tracked down at McNair's house and were tranquilised by animal care and control. Late in the day, the dogs were euthanised and tested for rabies.
McNair is a registered sex offender. The Staten Island district attorney says McNair was released from prison in 2004 after serving time on a third degree rape charge. -- AP
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