'Bit and Run' at Dog Show

A Ridgewood resident is looking for the owner of a large terrier, who allegedly bit his own Labrador Sunday.

While at the Ridgewood Education Foundation's inaugural dog show May 23, Scott Lief said  his Labrador, Shadow, was bit by an unidentified terrier. Although the terrier's owner apologized, she left before Lief and his family realized his dog was bleeding, eventually requiring seven stitches.

Now, Lief is seeking the dog's owner out.

"I'm not angry at the dog, I'm just frustrated," said Lief, the incoming Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce president. "I'm not looking to string her along, but I'd like to think that if this was reversed, I would have to be responsible for my dog."

Since then, Lief has posted an open letter to Patch and inquired with the REF but has found no luck. At issue are the terrier's records—doctors and the Division of Health want to ensure shots are up-to-date—and the sizable medical bill Shadow incurred.

Lief and his family were having a great time at the REF's inaugural dog show. Attending the event in the Ridgewood High School parking lot with his wife, son and six-month-old puppy, Lief enjoyed the sunny afternoon while supporting Ridgewood schools.

Just as the Liefs were prepared to leave around 2 p.m., Scott's son, Jason, asked to check out the caricaturist. While watching Jason and holding his dog's leash, Scott heard a growl and a yelp and turned to see his puppy being bit by the unidentified terrier.

In a open letter Lief posted on Patch, he wrote, "The terrier's owner apologized to my wife and said she thought it was time to leave and left quickly with her dog and her son."

After the woman and dog vanished, Lief noticed blood dripping from his dog's ear.

"It all happened in a flash. With his black fur it was hard to detect the blood at first," he said. "The dog just caught his ear and ripped the tip." 

Luckily for Lief and Shadow, representatives from the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital were on site and checked the dog out. Lief subsequently walked the dog down to their offices, and Shadow received seven stitches.

Lief doesn't think the terrier's owner knowingly deserted the incident scene—which he is jokingly referring to as a "bit and run"—and he isn't interested in getting the dog in trouble.

"It's not like a dog mauling a child. It's just unfortunate," he said. "If I had an aggressive dog, I'd be hesitant to bring the dog to something like that."

Additionally, Lief doesn't think he would even be able to identify the woman.

Shadow himself—outside of a "goofy, Elizabethan collar," which causes the Lab mix to bump into household objects—is recovering fine. He'll have to wear the collar for another 10 days so he doesn't lick the stitches.

If anyone has any information about the owner, Lief encourages them to contact him at slief@aol.com.