Newport News dog attacks under investigation

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Recent dog attacks have one Newport News community on edge, fearing not just for themselves, but their own pets.

“What do you do when you’re doing the right thing with your dogs on a leash and you’re attacked by another dog? What’s your recourse,” resident Phillip Zaprzalka said.

Residents of the Historic Hilton Village are reporting multiple attacks by dogs in the area, specifically in the Main Street and River Road intersection.

“Four dogs attacking our dogs. Fortunately, our bigger of the dog, our bigger of our two dogs kind of held three of them off,” Zaprzalka said. “But the other one, who’s, I guess, the alpha of the pack, the beige, one took a good chunk out of my smaller dog’s behind. No blood drawn.”

Zaprzalka’s wife was attacked on a midday walk. Fortunately, it happened in front of Hilton Elementary School, where locals were able to help.

“Some of the teachers from the elementary school were able to respond,” Zaprzalka said. “Some of the other neighborhood residents were able to come out and help. Which was utterly fantastic and we’re in their debt of gratitude.”

Zaprzalka recently moved to the area and he wants to feel comfortable in his new neighborhood.

“But you’re walking three blocks from your house,” Zaprzalka said. “[I] don’t feel like … I need to get all my accouterments to protect myself, to walk around the block. That’s not something you want to have to consider in such a nice neighborhood.”

He advises neighbors to take better care of their pets so everyone can feel safe.

“If you know your dog’s a little sketchy walking close to the dogs, walk across the street and you go your own ways,” Zaprzalka said. “And take care of your dogs at home. Make sure you know you keep them in. If you’re going to let them out, let them out on leash. I think the residents really feel something more has to be done.”

The Newport News Animal Welfare Division told 10 On Your Side this is an ongoing investigation. They’ve responded to another incident in the area:

This past Monday, October 14, 2024, we were made aware of a dog bite to a minor. We were told the bite occurred when the victim was walking their dog and 4 stray dogs came after them. At this time, we have no evidence showing that the dog being walked suffered injuries. Because one of the four dogs bit a human (the victim was unsure which one), all four were placed in quarantine at the owner’s home. (Any time a dog bites a human it has to be placed in a 10 day quarantine, usually at the owner’s home.) However, two of the dogs escaped quarantine on Wednesday night whereupon they were picked up at the owner’s home and are in quarantine at the shelter. The other two dogs remain in the home because they did not break quarantine.

Other than that, we have not been made aware of any other times this week that these dogs were stray and attacked a human or other companion animal. Also, animal welfare officers have not picked up and returned these dogs to their owner.

We had at least two other calls about these dogs prior to the bite on Monday. One was in September and one was last week. While the dogs went after the people with their pets, and in one case a child was with their parent, no bites were reported to us during our investigations.

Since the bite on Monday, however, we have received e-mails from residents who have told us of prior incidents, that were not reported to us when they occurred, and this case remains an on-going investigation.

Wayne Gilbert, superintendent of animal welfare for the Newport News Department of Parks and Recreation/Animal Welfare Division

Check with WAVY.com for updates.

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