Chinese Restaurant Owner Mauled by Pitbulls

[Jenn! 918]

Chinese restaurant owner mauled by three pit bulls, loses an earlobe, after trespassing in driveway

BY Simone Weichselbaum and Bill Hutchinson

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Originally Published:Sunday, October 17th 2010, 8:26 PM

A Chinese restaurant owner was viciously mauled by three pit bulls on Sunday when he entered the fenced yard of a Brooklyn home to pass out menus.

Xiu Ming Li, 52, was bitten on his legs, arm and head and had an earlobe chewed off in the brutal dog-eat-man encounter.

Cops said Li, owner of the Jing Lung Chinese Restaurant on Nostrand Ave. in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, entered the dogs' nearby domain despite a posted sign warning, "Beware of Dog."

"He doesn't understand the concept of trespassing. He can't read the sign," Li's daughter, Shih Ru Li, 26, told the Daily News.

"My dad could have lost his life," she said. "He had pieces of meat gone from his limbs. His earlobe is gone."

The elder Li was out with a co-worker passing out menus when he unlatched the gate of Samantha Sing's house at 155 Winthrop St., cops said. Li was walking up the driveway when Sing's 3-year-old pit bulls - Joe, Solo and Maxie Drizzle - pounced on him at 9:26 a.m.

Sing said she heard the commotion and ran outside. She and her nephew pulled the dogs off Li as neighbors dialed 911.

"He came in here," Sing said of Li, pointing to her driveway. "Why would he come in here?"

Li was taken to nearby Kings County Hospital, where he was undergoing surgery last night.

Cops seized Sing's pets. One of them, Joe, died while in custody at the city's Animal Care and Control Center in Brooklyn, Sing said.

Sing said she believes Joe had a heart attack because he was "hyped up" from the incident.

"These are my children," she said of the dogs. "They came from the same mother."

They are about to celebrate their fourth birthday on Nov. 4.

Shih Ru Li and her fiancé, Fhing Lu Wong, 26, went to Sing's house yesterday afternoon and heatedly confronted her in front of a News reporter.

"He's in the hospital! He has bites all over his body! His ear is hanging off!" Li yelled at Sing, who was on the phone with a 311 operator asking how to get her dogs returned.

Pointing to the "Beware of Dog" sign hanging on a bush near her gate, Sing yelled, "Our dogs are our kids! I lost my dog!"

"He doesn't understand signs," Li said of her father, adding that he immigrated to the United States 26 years ago but has been focused on working hard to put her and her brother through college.

"This was a bad accident," Sing countered.

"No way!" Li responded. "The dogs shouldn't be so vicious. My dad didn't understand. Don't you understand? I believe a human life is more valuable than a dog's life."

Sing told Li she was sorry and added, "We just have to pray for your father."

Cops have no plans to charge Sing and said she could get Solo and Maxie Drizzle back once she produces registration papers and proof of immunization.

"They would protect us," Sing said of her dogs. "People were always trying to break in."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/17/2010-10-17_chinese_restaurant_owner_mauled_by_three_pit_bulls_loses_an_earlobe_after_trespa.html#ixzz12oiTE8RU

[anya-D 8]

I really feel for the old man but the dogs and the owner shouldnt be responsible. Why on earth would you open the gate of someone's house anyway? go to the next house or just leave it in the mail box (since the dogs are so vicious they sure would have the mail box outside?) it's a really unfortunate accident that shouldnt happen if the guy didnt open the gate and walk right in... the ability to read the sign shouldnt matter.

Wel, I hope he have a speedy recovery.. poor guy

[Henykat 16]

After 26 years he should be able to read the sign!

[AlinaH 38]

I personally love pit bulls but I definitely think the owners should be responsible. No dog should be that vicious. What if some kids were out selling cookies for their school and they opened the gate? Even if they had a sign up, if their gate is accessible to others (not locked), then they have a responsibility to keep people safe from their animals.

If my dogs attacked ANYONE, unless they were breaking into my house, I would definitely have them put down.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I personally love pit bulls but I definitely think the owners should be responsible. No dog should be that vicious. What if some kids were out selling cookies for their school and they opened the gate? Even if they had a sign up, if their gate is accessible to others (not locked), then they have a responsibility to keep people safe from their animals.

If my dogs attacked ANYONE, unless they were breaking into my house, I would definitely have them put down.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

i bet he understands the concept of trespassing now.

[trillium13 84]

When I clicked on this thread I was all ready to feel sorry for someone, but I'm having trouble with that. Should anyone have to go through what he went through? No, but he's lucky it wasn't worse.

Stay off of people's private property if you're not invited and this won't happen to you.

If they had asked him over and this happened it would be a totally different story.

[john & jean 37]

wow, if you trespass here, my pit bull is not going to be your problem

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

wow, if you trespass here, my pit bull is not going to be your problem

[spookyturtle 9,465]

My property is mined, just in case.

[Welshcookie 17]

I personally love pit bulls but I definitely think the owners should be responsible. No dog should be that vicious. What if some kids were out selling cookies for their school and they opened the gate? Even if they had a sign up, if their gate is accessible to others (not locked), then they have a responsibility to keep people safe from their animals.

If my dogs attacked ANYONE, unless they were breaking into my house, I would definitely have them put down.

I agree, owners need to be extra careful when they own a pack of dogs like this, 'pack' mentality can be complex and needs controlling. I have had Akitas in the past and now have a pitbull...I trained them both never even to approach the door when someone calls, and outside they are always on a chain when I am not around. I don't regard my dogs as protectors of my home, now if a potential house-breaker notices my dogs and chooses not to enter my home, then that's a bonus.

I love my Pitbull, she is the sweetest and most good natured dog I've ever had, I've never seen an ounce of aggression from her...do I leave her unattended with my small grandchildren? no, not a chance...because she is just a dog, and they can be unpredictable.

[jodee 30]

We have a 2 yr old American Staffordshire Terrier. she is the "cousin" of a pitbull, and many people mistake her for one.

We have her trained as well, and like welshie said we have never had an ounce of aggression from her either. with that said, we never leave her with someone she has never been around either.

Just like people, dogs are a product of their own environment, and only know what they are taught, or trained to do.

After 26 years, that man should know how to read some basic english, and precautionary signs, instead of relying on others, that is no excuse as far as I am concerned. But, also, if the owners know those dogs are capable of such aggression they should not be left in a UNSECURED yard. The fence should of been locked so as young children, who can't yet read, don't freely let themselves in.

I think it should be a case of both parties going halves in medical bills, end of story. they were both at fault!

[Danno 1,228]

I agree, owners need to be extra careful when they own a pack of dogs like this, 'pack' mentality can be complex and needs controlling. I have had Akitas in the past and now have a pitbull...I trained them both never even to approach the door when someone calls, and outside they are always on a chain when I am not around. I don't regard my dogs as protectors of my home, now if a potential house-breaker notices my dogs and chooses not to enter my home, then that's a bonus.

I love my Pitbull, she is the sweetest and most good natured dog I've ever had, I've never seen an ounce of aggression from her...do I leave her unattended with my small grandchildren? no, not a chance...because she is just a dog, and they can be unpredictable.

Great post.

The pack mentality is like a Multiplier .... it not only prompts attacks but adds to intensity and length.

know your breed and never underestimate it's hardwired effects.