A pack of pit bulls escaped from a home and attacked a little girl and two teenagers in New York City’s borough of Staten Island.

Cops reportedly said that “a lot” of dogs jumped out of a back window that had been left open at 250 York Avenue in the New Brighton area of Staten Island on the afternoon of Tuesday, 18th October.

The dogs then bit a two-year-old girl, a 13-year-old boy who was on his way home from school and who has been named as Jamhni Sancarlos, and a 19-year-old girl, who has not been named.

The shocking incident unfolded as the dogs went on a biting spree through the neighbourhood, leading to the three victims being taken to the Richmond University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The police said they recovered nearly a dozen escaped dogs and reportedly arrested their owner, who has not been named, in connection with the case and one other person. They are said to be a man and a woman, with neighbours reportedly saying that the man was the homeowner.

Police said that there were still at least 15 dogs inside the owner’s house as of Tuesday evening.

Neighbours are quoted in local media as saying that at least four of the dogs escaped the property before attacking people in the area.

It is currently unclear why the owner had so many pit bulls and if there were being bred for illegal dog fighting.

It was unclear at the time of writing if any charges had been brought.