Stranger kicks 5-pound rescue canine in NYC, then claims canine proprietor attacked first

Metro

By Haley Brown, Joe Marino and Amanda Woods

Published
Feb. 15, 2024, 7:47 pm ET

An Upper West Side animal lover is fuming after a stranger booted her 5-pound chihuahua over the weekend — after which accused her of assaulting him first.

Jen Floyd, 40, was walking her 3-year-old rescue pup, Knox, round 2:50 p.m. Saturday on West seventieth Street and West End Avenue when she stated a person almost knocked over her pup whereas distracted on the cellphone.

“He was not looking at all where he was going,” Floyd informed The Post Wednesday. “So he was about to step on my dog by accident, so I said, ‘Hey, watch out for my dog – you’re about to step on him.’”

A quick surveillance video obtained by The Post reveals Floyd walking Knox on the sidewalk when the person punts the poor pooch.

Floyd stated the stranger stopped and stared at her earlier than kicking the tiny animal on his aspect.

“He kicked him as hard as he [could] a few feet back,” the fuming proprietor stated. “He’s like a 5-pound dog. His foot was bigger than my dog.”

Knox was visibly in ache after the mindless attack, Floyd stated.

“He was crying and screaming,” the lady recalled. “I don’t even know how to replicate it. It was very traumatic.”

Floyd stated she swooped up her yelping pooch and ran after the person – mobile phone in hand – to file him as she confronted him.

“I ran down the block after with my phone camera, and he turns around, and I start screaming, ‘What the hell’?” she stated.

“He’s basically like, ‘My mom’s not feeling well. I have to get her medicine,’” Jen stated the stranger defined.

But that reasoning didn’t suffice for the enraged pet proprietor.

“I’m like, ‘Dude, that doesn’t give you the right to assault people or animals,’” stated Floyd, who posted a video of the confrontation to her Instagram account.

Floyd referred to as 911 after the incident, however gave no particulars and declined to fulfill with cops, in accordance with police sources.

But the alleged dog-kicker, 34, confirmed up at a police precinct the next afternoon and made a criticism – arguing that the lady was really the aggressor, cops and sources stated.

He claimed that he was walking on the sidewalk when the dog-walker approached him from behind, pushed him into the road and yelled, “What are you doing?” earlier than accusing him of almost stepping on her canine, cops stated.

She then punched and kicked him within the face, inflicting minor accidents, and tried to interrupt his mobile phone, in accordance with the person’s account supplied to police.

But Floyd denied putting the person’s face, solely admitting: “I think right after he kicked Knox I kicked his foot.”

She additionally denied making an attempt to interrupt his mobile phone.

Floyd then confirmed up on the precinct on Monday to file a report in opposition to the alleged dog-kicker – making the 2 “cross-complainants” tangled in a feud with no decision, up to now, sources stated.

No arrests had been made by Thursday afternoon, cops stated.

Further complicating issues, dogs are thought-about “property” by New York State penal regulation, sources stated.

The former animal welfare employee – who now runs an vintage and classic pet-themed jewellery firm with 10% of the proceeds benefiting shelters, SPCAs and humane societies – stated she’s feeling “helpless” after the attack.

“We’re just trying to spread the word since there don’t seem to be any legal repercussions,” stated Floyd, who has been vocal concerning the incident on her Instagram account. “We want people to be aware of this man and that he might be a danger.”

Knox wasn’t severely harm – except for some soreness on his aspect, Floyd stated.

But his proprietor stated she took the pint-sized pup right down to Florida to recuperate from the traumatic ordeal.

“He is the sweetest angel,” Floyd stated of her beloved pet. “Normally chihuahuas can be yappy or feisty but all he wants is food and affection.”

Floyd is hoping that the sunny escape from the Big Apple will assist convey Knox again to regular.

“I wanted to give him some warm weather and just like get away from the city,” she stated.