Afterglow Dog Kills Yorkie

A four-year-old Yorkshire Terrier was attacked and killed by another dog while being walked by its owner on Monday, October 18.

According to the report filed by the Verona Police Department, the Yorkie, named London, was being walked near 68 Afterglow Avenue around 1 p.m. Witnesses told the police that the other dog, which is described in the report as a “pit bull, bull dog mix,” attacked London from behind. Several neighbors and a contractor working in the area were able to free the Yorkie from the other dog’s bite, but he died a short time later at Marsh Animal Hospital. The Yorkie’s owner was also bitten in the incident, and was treated for lacerations to her hand at a local urgent care facility.

The witnesses gave the police the name and address of the attacking dog’s owners, who were not with the dog at the time of incident and live several houses north on the block.

The VPD called Wayne Township Animal Control, which provides services to Verona. Wayne officials took the attacking dog into quarantine, and will hold it until a hearing on November 10. Animal Control will testify about the dog’s behavior in quarantine at the hearing, and if the court finds that the dog is dangerous, it would have to be put down.  

Verona police cited the attacking dog’s owner under Verona Code provision 145-21 (animal at large) and issued a summons under state law Section 4:19-23, dog declared potentially dangerous.

Under Verona law, a dog can be unleashed in a gated and locked area on its owner’s property, but must leashed elsewhere. Unleashed or threatening dogs can be reported to the Verona Police at 911 or 973-239-5000, or to Wayne Animal Control at 973-694-9295.