Little Arlo the Pomeranian will live on the hearts of many who showed up for a Sunday night vigil to commemorate the tiny pup who died in the jaws of a larger canine.
More than 35 people showed up to the vigil to celebrate Arlo’s one year of life — and to push for justice for the Pomeranian.
Arlo died earlier this month when he was attacked by a large, white Shepherd mix dog who ran right up to Arlo and shook the tiny dog to death in his massive jaws.
Arlo’s owner Lauren Schneider, who was beside herself with grief over the death, claims she tracked down the killer dog’s owners thanks to the proprietor of a nearby auto parts store who gave her a copy of a video of the attack. She has filed a civil suit against the owners of the dog and is pushing the Health Department to hold a hearing to declare the dog dangerous — a move she says is necessary to ensure the dog, which she doesn’t want ordered killed, gets the help it needs.
“That’s the only way to get a judge to enforce muzzling or obedience training,” said Schneider. “Or the judge might rule that the owners are completely incompetent and the dog should be taken away. It is not my goal to have the dog put down.”
The Health Department will immediately launch a dangerous dog hearing if a dog bites a human, but otherwise, a complainant has to file a report and request a hearing.
Schneider declined to name the humans she thinks are responsible for the dog murder, since they have not yet been served with papers for the lawsuit.
Reach reporter Danielle Furfaro at dfurfaro@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2511. Follow her at twitter.com/DanielleFurfaro.