By: Richard L. Smith
Summit authorities have identified the owner of two pit bulls involved in a violent attack that injured a 70-year-old woman and killed her dog earlier this month.
Police say the attack happened around 5:52 a.m. on November 5, 2025, while the woman was walking her small dog near 91 Springfield Avenue.
According to investigators, two leashed pit bulls suddenly broke free from their handler and attacked both the woman and her pet.
The victim was knocked to the ground and suffered injuries to her thighs, hand, and arm.
Her dog later died from its injuries after being taken to VEG Emergency Hospital on Morris Essex Turnpike.
Police say the dogs’ owner regained control of the animals but left the scene before officers arrived.
The Summit Police Detective Bureau launched a detailed investigation, collecting surveillance video and canvassing the surrounding area.
Through this work, detectives were able to track the owner’s movements and confirm their identity.
With assistance from Summit Animal Control and the Summit Health Department, both pit bulls were removed from the home and placed in an animal shelter, where they will remain impounded under state law while the case moves through the courts.
Police Chief Ryan Peters praised his investigators for quickly bringing clarity to a “deeply distressing incident.”
Mayor Elizabeth Fagan also extended her condolences to the victim, urging dog owners to make sure anyone walking strong or multiple dogs can safely control them.
Summit officials are reminding residents that dog owners are legally responsible for maintaining full control of their animals at all times.