Long Island Woman Whose Dog Mauled Toddler, His Uncle Pleads Guilty

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Mastic woman pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment in connection with her dog “Kojo” mauling a two-year-old boy and attacking the toddler’s uncle when he was trying to protect the child, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Wednesday.

Amy Willi, 45, admitted to law enforcement that she knew Kojo was a dangerous dog with violent
tendencies, according to prosecutors. As a condition of her plea, she will not be permitted to own, possess, or care for any animals for three years.

Her attorney, Gregory Kalmar of Melville, declined to comment.

On March 14, 2023, Willi opened the front door to her home while a two-year-old boy was playing in the front yard of his home across the street, and she failed to adequately secure "Kojo" inside of her home, according to prosecutors.

The dog then dashed out the front door and headed straight towards the unsuspecting toddler, and the toddler’s uncle, who had been watching him while he played, picked up his nephew to protect him from the dog, prosecutors said, adding, that "Kojo" bit the uncle on his left forearm causing the toddler to fall to the ground, and then it bit the boy multiple times on his face, head, and leg, causing lacerations to his right eye, cheek, scalp, and leg.

The attack only stopped when several family members ran outside the home and forced the dog to
release the child, and the toddler was rushed to the emergency room at Stony Brook University
Hospital where he received stitches for his injuries, prosecutors said.

Tierney said that "the dog’s dangerous tendencies, coupled with her failure to properly secure the
animal, led to an innocent child and his uncle sustaining serious injuries."

“Pet owners must understand the serious responsibility that comes with owning animals," he said. "Necessary precautions pet owners must take to ensure the safety of their pets, and the community include maintaining secure enclosures, using leashes in public areas, and not leaving their animals unattended where they could potentially escape. Failure to do so can lead to tragic consequences, as seen in this case.”

Willi is due back in court for sentencing on Nov. 20.