Dog Bites, Knocks Over Teen on Claremont Avenue

A 16-year-old girl was riding her bicycle on Claremont Avenue near Park Street when she was attacked by a large black dog, Montclair Police said late Monday.

According to Detective Lt. Angel Roman, a Montclair resident brought his teenaged daughter into the lobby of police headquarters just before 8 p.m. on June 26 to report the incident.

He told officers that as his daughter was riding her bike, she passed an unknown black man walking a large black dog—breed unknown—and was attacked and then knocked to the ground by the dog.

He said the dog bit her on the left thigh before finally releasing her.

The dog and the owner then fled east on Claremont Avenue, police said.

The resident said his daughter did not need an ambulance but that he would obtain medical assistance for her if needed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the code enforcement department at the Montclair Police Department. 

According to the American Humane Association, an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. Nearly 800,000 bites require medical care. About 92 percent of fatal dog attacks involve male dogs, 94 percent of which were not neutered. About 25 percent of fatal dog attacks involve chained dogs.

What do you think? Do you know anyone who's been attacked by a dog recently? Let us know in the comments section below.