Angry Neighbors Chomping At The Bit For Justice

Its a case where a dogs bite is certainly worse than its bark. The story begins on May 2. Two Department of Agriculture agents visited the Bayside home of Daria Hryckowian, to look for the presence of Asian Longhorn Beetles, which in recent years had become a menace to Queens tree population. As agents Gene Binder and Angel Cordero worked near Hryckowians 43rd Avenue driveway, which she shares with her next-door neighbor Yaser (Kenny) Tawfik, an unexpected surprise awaited them. Behind the seven-foot gate leading to Tawfiks backyard sat three staff terriers, better known as pit bulls.
And, thats where the two neighbors stories begin to differ.
According to Hryckowian, who witnessed the scene with her husband Mykola and five-year-old son, Tawfiks gate broke open, releasing the hounds and causing a terrifying scene. The dogs attacked the two workers, tearing at their arms and legs.
Witnessing the gruesome scene, Darias husband Mykola jumped into the fray. Sensing the immediate danger, he sprayed the dogs with a fire extinguisher, temporarily distracting the mongrels attention from the two fallen agents. As agent Binder escaped into a neighbors home, the dogs turned their attention to Mykola, who was bitten on the buttocks.
As he attempted to call 911 on his cell phone, Cordero was attacked by the dogs. Bitten severely on both arms, hands, and legs, Cordero was saved from further injury by a passing motorist.
Tawfik said that, in an attempt to release the dogs from Cordero, Binder stabbed the five-year-old pit bull "Monkey" with a blunt object, opening a wound on the animals skull.
"It was a bloody, disgusting, and vicious scene," he admitted. "They got mauled."
When the dust cleared, Binder was hospitalized for four days with bite wounds to both arms and one leg, while Cordero was placed in intensive care, suffering severe arm and leg damage.
Shortly thereafter, the Department of Health stepped in to evaluate whether the dogs should be destroyed. "Once they got involved, I assumed the dogs would never return home," said Hryckowian.
However, the Bayside native was mistaken.
After being quarantined by the ASPCA, the dogs were evaluated by animal behaviorist Peter Borchelt. The Department of Health then conducted a hearing in front of an administrative law judge to determine ownership of the three animals.
The judge ruled that the two elder dogs (Monkey and Hammer, age eight) had violent tendencies, but neither should be put to sleep. Further, he ordered the dogs to be separated from each other and their owner, and be domiciled outside of the New York City jurisdiction. "Trouble", age three, was deemed safe to return home to Bayside this week, as the judge indicated that he had simply joined in pack behavior with the other two dogs.
In addition, Trouble will be unable to cause any trouble, as he is no longer allowed in the Tawfiks backyard without a family member home at the time. And, no matter where they live, none of the dogs will be allowed to roam the neighborhood without a leash. All three dogs were fixed, and each had a small microchip placed under its skin, to identify them in case they ever get loose.
"I feel betrayed," said Cordero, who claims that during the hearing, neither he nor Binder was asked to testify. "I thought the city Health Department would do something. But, they did nothing. I feel very let down."
Cordero, a Jackson Heights resident, spent 28 days at North Shore Hospital and undergoes therapy three days a week.
"Were not very happy," said Joe Gittleman, director of the Asian Longhorn Beetle program with the New York State Department of Agriculture, and supervisor to both Binder and Cordero. "We find these terms unacceptable and unfortunate."
Hryckowian told The Queens Courier her life has been turned upside down by the incident. She said, after witnessing the attack, her young son has had to see a therapist regularly, to deal with his fear of dogs. "He has a pre-occupation with death," said Hryckowian. "He wants to get a gun, so he can protect himself from dogs. He is scared for his life."
Unsuccessful in her attempt to have the dogs destroyed, Hryckowian alleges she was subjected to threats by Tawfik. "He told me, there better be someone here to protect you when you get back," said the homeowner. She added that she has filed several complaints with the police, but as of yet "nothing has been done."
Hryckowian said she hasnt returned home for weeks, and has now put her home up for sale. "When we saw their attitude and lack of remorse, we decided there was no other choice," she said.
For his part, Tawfik claims he never threatened his neighbor, and that he and his dogs have been unfairly persecuted. "The Department of Agriculture workers trespassed on my property," said Tawfik, "and they were there without my permission." He added during the incident, the agents peered over his fence, agitating and provoking the animals.
"It was an unfortunate accident," alleged Tawfik, who has spent over $10,000 in legal fees since May 2 to ensure the safe return of his pets.
With three children of his own, ages 7, 10, and 13, Tawfik said, he would never place them in harms way. "Were honest people," he said. "There is no possible way I would ever put them in any type of danger." He added that there had previously never been a complaint about the animals, and that family and friends would often spend several hours a day playing with the pets. "These dogs never hurt anyone," said Tawfik. "They are members of my family."
In a feud worthy of the Hatfields and McCoys, Tawfik said that Hryckowian "has dollar signs in her eyes."
With litigation pending by both Hryckowian, Binder, and Cordero, and Trouble returning to Bayside this week, apparently sleeping dogs will not lie for quite a while.