Blame The Owner, Not the Dog: Attorney Calls for Retraining of Aggressive Dogs
Says Dog Involved in Attack Should Be Retrained, Not Put Down
PATCHOGUE, NEW YORK — Mack Press, also known as “The New York Dog Bite LawyerSM,” is available to comment on an incident in which a dog attacked four people.
According to police reports, four people at a West Babylon residence on Old Farmingdale Road were bitten by an American bully on January 6. All four were transported to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.
The dog was brought to the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in West Islip. In addition, police notified the Town of Babylon dog warden.
There were no details as to who owned the dog and what caused the attacks.
Mr. Press was the victim of a dog attack himself. He and his chocolate lab, Lucky, were attacked by a loose dog earlier this year. The dog charged at Mr. Press — unprovoked — knocking him down and viciously biting Lucky near the jugular vein. For several minutes, Mr. Press shielded Lucky from the vicious dog’s attacks, suffering more than 20 bites to his face, head, arms, legs, losing a front tooth and exacerbating an earlier back injury. Lucky underwent emergency surgery and recovered from his injuries.
In addition to his practice, Mr. Press is involved in animal advocacy. He is a dog lover and a supporter of many animal rescue organizations. His practice recently sponsored DogFest 2025 to benefit Canine Companions, an organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs and ongoing support, free of charge. As part of his animal advocacy, Mr. Press seeks to include “no kill” clauses in settlements and require training for aggressive dogs rather than euthanasia.
“It seems to me that the dog was let loose since none of those who were bitten owned the dog,” Mr. Press said. “If this were the case, then the owner should be held responsible. It is the owner who teaches the animal to be aggressive. The dog should not be put down; rather, the dog should undergo training to unlearn these aggressive behaviors.”
For more information, call 1 (833) 8-DOGBITE (833-836-4248) or visit www.NYDogBite.com.
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About The New York Dog Bite LawyerSM
Mack Press founded his own practice, The New York Dog Bite LawyerSM, after being viciously attacked by a loose dog. His practice concentrates solely on New York State dog bite law. In addition, he isn’t just another lawyer — he’s a dog lover and a dog bite survivor. Mr. Press has over 30 years of litigation experience. In 2012, he launched The Mack Firm, where he litigated nationwide class-actions and represented countless plaintiffs, including in high-profile cases against Samsung and Lance Armstrong. For more information, call 1 (833) 8-DOGBITE (833-836-4248) or visit www.NYDogBite.com.
