COOPER CITY, Fla. — A tranquil stroll through a Cooper City neighborhood took a nightmarish turn when a beloved family pet, Punch, a 15-pound poodle terrier mix, was brutally attacked by another dog, leaving him in critical condition.
Lior, Punch’s owner, recounted the harrowing incident, describing how the attack unfolded suddenly. “A dog, huge one, black one,” he recalled.
The unsettling attack took place on Friday along Northwest 103rd Avenue in Pembroke Pines. In the aftermath of the confrontation, Lior and concerned neighbors rallied together to separate the aggressive dogs.
The injured Punch was promptly rushed to LeadER Animal Hospital, bearing deep bite wounds, broken ribs, and injuries to his back. The severity of his condition underscores the gravity of the situation.
Paul Sarnowski, visiting South Florida from New Jersey to spend time with family, had brought his 3-year-old Belgian shepherd, Rocky, along. Tragedy struck when Rocky slipped out of a door while Sarnowski briefly tended to his car. “He saw it over here, probably he was barking or something, and whoosh, and just run,” Sarnowski recounted.
When asked if Rocky had a history of such incidents, Sarnowski responded, “No, no, first time.” He expressed deep remorse for the unfortunate incident and detailed how he sustained scratches himself while attempting to separate the two dogs. He was the one who contacted the authorities, vowing to cover any medical expenses incurred as a result of the incident. “Whatever the bill is, I’m going to pay, right away,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Punch’s family is consumed by hope for their pet’s recovery. “Right now, we focus on our own baby,” Lior expressed. Punch, at 11 years old, is the center of their concern, and their singular wish is to see him safely back home, on the mend.
