JAMAICA — A scrappy little Boston terrier lunged at and bit a hulking city garbageman in Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon, sending the trash collector to the hospital, a Department of Sanitation spokeswoman said.
Patrocino Vicencio, 52, had his two pooches, Bandit, 6, and Buddy, 2, on their leashes about 9:20 a.m. when Robert Edmonds, a 13-year sanitation department veteran, came over to collect their cans on 167th Street near St. John's University, the dogs' owner said.
Vicencio said that his back was to the street when Edmonds, who he described as more than 6-feet tall, leaned over the raised yard toward the two canines.
Buddy started barking, but Bandit, in what the owner said was a protective act, chomped down on the garbageman's shin.
Edmonds jumped back and cried out in pain, Vicencio said. The bite tore the skin and drew blood, he said.
The sanitation worker seemed to take the attack in stride, though. He didn't kick the dog or raise his voice, the owner said. He went to the hospital for a blood test, a DSNY spokeswoman said.
The attack was uncharacteristic of Bandit, Vicencio said.
"They are so friendly that students from St. John's stop and pet them," he said. Vicencio said that this was the dog's first biting incident.
Linsheng Ho, a neighbor who lives across the street, said he was surprised by the incident.
"It's a pretty small dog," he said. "I'm surprised. I've lived here for quite some time and I've had no problem [with the neighbors or the dog.]"
NYPD officers arrived after the incident and wrote out a report, but no charges were filed, police said.
