UPDATE: Dog In Pitbull Attack Seriously Injured

A Pitbull that was being walked near the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Smith Street got loose Friday and allegedly attacked a Boston Terrier and his walker, police said.

The Pitbull was being walked by a dog-walker at 8:45 a.m. when he escaped his walker's grasp and ran across the street and attacked the Boston Terrier. The Pitbull also attempted to bite the Boston Terrier's walker as well, police said.

While the Boston Terrier's walker - who is also the sister of the dog's owner - sustained some scrapes during the incident, the Terrier, named Max, was seriously injured during the attack.

"He's in real bad shape right now," said Christopher Safrath, Max's owner. "He may never regain the use of his front left paw, and he may never truly be able to control it or put weight on it again."

Safrath said that the Pitbull had Max off of the ground in his mouth, and he was thrown through the air on multiple occasions.

"This dog wasn't going to stop until the six people that helped pulled him off or Max was dead," he added.

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Max had to undergo extensive surgeries after the incident, which included getting his chest muscle sewn back together and getting five drains installed. He also has puncture wounds all over his back and body, his owner said.

According to Safrath, the Pitbull was contained once but then became agitated for a second time and got away from the dog-walker again. The second attack on Max is when the majority of injuries occurred.

"My sister was freaking out," Safrath said. "She kept trying to get Max off the ground, but she just wasn't strong enough."

"My concern is that this dog, out of nowhere, ran across the street and attacked a smaller dog," Safrath added. "...God only knows what's going to happen now."

Police added that the Pitbull will likely be reported to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

On Sept. 29, 2011, two Pitbulls broke loose and attacked a woman that was arriving at Brookside School. She sustained serious injuries during that incident and the dogs remained on the loose for several weeks before one was killed by Nassau County Police.