The Upper West Side is finally getting the closure it’s been waiting for on a night when a pair of aggressive pit bulls that have been the cause of four brutal attacks on residents were taken into custody.
Joseph Columbus, a 40‑year‑old owner, could be behind bars until March 11 and may have to pay a daily fine of $250 for violating a June order issued by Judge Phaedra Perry‑Bond that demanded he turn over his dogs, Zooey and Rambo, to city officials. Court filings indicate Columbus had repeatedly missed court dates in this case and once even fled a city sheriff in a high‑speed chase. He was finally arrested at a Manhattan Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, according to city Sheriff Anthony Miranda.
The victims of the attacks are mostly Upper West Side dog owners. Lauren Block, whose two Shih Tzu mixes—Grover and Chuckie—were mauled in January, remembers Columbus’s defiant stance. “He kept saying ‘I’m not going anywhere. Back off,’” Block recalled. Together with Devon Allen and Lauren Claus, whose 16‑pound Chihuahua, Penny, was also bitten by Rambo and Zooey, Block filed a lawsuit against Columbus in May.
Block says she will use any restitution Columbus pays in fines to cover nearly $22,000 in veterinary bills that were incurred after Rambo and Zooey’s attack left her blind, killed 17‑year‑old Grover, and severely wounded Chuckie. She added that any money she receives will be donated to an animal shelter in Grover’s honor, noting, “I’m not super rich but it will make me feel good to do something in Grover’s honor because he was the sweetest dog I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
Neighbors and the community at large have expressed relief that justice is being pursued. Karen Kramer, a local dog walker who has followed the case closely, said, “The whole neighborhood is very happy we finally got some conclusion. But we’ll be much happier when the dogs are surrendered and out of his possession.”
When questioned, Columbus denied owning Rambo or Zooey. According to a report from the West Side Rag, “I’ve got no dog to give,” he told the court, adding that Rambo is supposedly in the care of his cousin and that Zooey belongs to his ex‑girlfriend. He accused the city of treating him unfairly, saying, “I’m being treated worse than a murderer or a pedophile. I want my life to come back to normal.”
Lawyer Mollie Swears, who represents Block and Claus, characterized the court’s order and Columbus’s imprisonment as the culmination of months of hard work. In addition to the pending fine, Columbus is now at risk of being evicted from his grandmother’s apartment on Columbus Avenue, where records show that Rambo and Zooey were also implicated in a March attack that forced residents to flee the building.
Reports from West Side residents also allege that Columbus frequently shouted slurs at his dogs and kept them locked indoors for extended periods. No attorney for Columbus has been available for comment at this time.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
