In today's sad doggy news, an Upper East Side co-op board is trying to oust one elderly resident's pooch, claiming he has been biting residents.
According to court documents, Oscar, a 7-year-old chow and golden retriever mix, is "dangerous and has attacked and bitten Building residents and staff on many occasions." East 68th Street co-op residents allege Oscar's attacked a doorman along with three other building inhabitants.
But Oscar's owner, 83-year-old Edgar Brandau, says his dog is being unfairly accused, and that the attacks in question were provoked. "He's never bitten. Never, never," Brandau told DNAinfo. "Women bring their kids over and pet Oscar, and I take him into church." Brandau, a retired menswear designer, has lived in the building for 60 years, and says Oscar has lived with him since he was a puppy. Brandau is also suffering from HIV and cancer, and says he needs Oscar's companionship. "I have a letter from my doctor that said the dog, as a companion, is necessary to my life, my survival, because I'm ill," Brandau said.
The co-op board said they mandated that Brandau keep Oscar muzzled at all times when entering and exiting the building, but he has not complied, giving them the ability to evict the dog. Brandau's not about to give up, telling the Post, "I need him, I can't live without him." But the co-op board says the most recent attack, the one of the doorman, happened just last month, and the Department of Health received dog-bite reports about Oscar in 2009 and 2012, so if the board has its way in court, it looks like Oscar's going to have to find a new home.
