Two brothers from Long Island were charged in connection to a dog attack that left a 9-year-old boy needing surgery, prosecutors said.
The victim was walking home from school with his brother on Jan. 27 at about 3 p.m. on Sylvan Lane near Wilson Avenue in Westbury when he was attacked by two dogs, authorities said.
One of the dogs, a pit bull mix named Rocky, latched onto the boy and bit his leg while the other dog, a tan mixed breed named Tori, barked at his brother.
The boys tried to beat off the attacking dogs with their fists, books and sticks, authorities said. They were only able to escape after two passersby helped fight the dogs away.
The 9-year-old was rushed to a hospital and needed surgery, authorities said.
“The victim’s injuries were so severe that he nearly died in this dog mauling incident,” District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement. “Thanks to the quick work of Nassau County Police Department, Good Samaritans and his brother, the victim is alive and recuperating.”
The two dogs were allegedly left in a yard by Cesar Cuellar, 27, of East Meadow, and Anthony Villalta, 19, of Westbury. They escaped and attacked the boy a short time later.
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The dog who latched onto the boy's leg had been involved in three previous attacks in as many months, prosecutors said.
Cuellar and Villalta face a number of charges in connection to the attack, including reckless assault, reckless endangerment and negligent assault, authorities said. Authorities said that both took care of both of the dogs and were aware that the animals were aggressive.
The dogs are being held by prosecutors.
They were released without bail at their arraignments, prosecutors said. Calls to their attorneys were not immediately returned.
