Article from: http://www.cbsatlanta.com
John Benton was getting ready to leave for work one day this July when the family’s dog, Titan, started blocking the doorway.”He ran down the steps and would not let me go out the front door,” Benton said. “He was barking and running around in circles, he’d run up a few flights of steps and run back down just to keep me from going to let me know something was wrong. And that’s when I followed him up the stairs to see what he was trying to tell me.”What he found was his wife, Gloria, on the floor, her head bleeding. They later found out she had suffered from a brain aneurysm and had fallen and fractured her skull. John said doctors told him if Titan hadn’t alerted him that Gloria was in trouble, she might have not survived.
Now, Titan is being honored as “Neighbor of the Year” by the Vintage Pointe Neighborhood Association. He is the first dog to receive this honor, and the first male.
Four-year-old “Chief”, an American Pit Bull Terrier, dashed in front of a venomous snake which was poised to strike at 87-year-old Liberata la Victoria and her granddaughter Maria Victoria. Shielding the women from the attack, Chief saved them but died minutes later from the snake’s bite.
The children in the Fronteras household refer to their dog as “kuya” (“big brother”), and he certainly proved it on the day he sacrificed his life to protect the family.
On Monday, Feb. 12 at around 2 p.m., “Chief”, an American Pit Bull Terrier, rescued Liberata la Victoria, 87, and her granddaughter Maria Victoria Fronteras from a deadly cobra which had entered their house through an opening in the kitchen.
Liberata la Victoria and Chief had been watching TV on the sofa when suddenly Chief jumped up and alerted her to the presence of a cobra less than 10 feet away. Maria Victoria rushed in and pulled her grandmother into a separate room, hoping the snake would leave.
But when Maria Victoria later emerged from the room, she was terrified to find the cobra poised about two feet away. Equally startled, the cobra expanded its hood and appeared to be spitting venom as it prepared to strike.
“The snake was in front of us, maneuvering a deadly attack,” says Maria Victoria. “I screamed out loud to ask for help.”
That’s when from “out of nowhere”, Chief dashed between the cobra and the two women, using himself as a shield against the cobra’s attacks. Chief then seized the cobra by the neck and slammed it into the floor, killing it.
But for Chief it was a Pyrrhic victory. In the struggle, he sustained a fatal bite to the jaw, and moments later he began gasping for breath and collapsed.
The family sought the help of a veterinarian, but they were told that nothing could be done. According to the vet, the bite was too close to Chief’s brain, and the venom had already spread. Maria Victoria called her husband Marlone who, stunned by the news, rushed home immediately.
Ian de la Rama, a friend of the family, says it was less than 30 minutes from the time Chief had been bitten that he “went wobbly and lost control of his organs,” 2 urinating and defecating uncontrollably. Yet he still kept clinging to life.
It wasn’t until Marlone arrived that Chief finally let go. Ian de la Rama describes, “Chief gave his two deep breaths and died. He was fighting and saving his last ounces of breath to see a glimpse of his master for the last two seconds of his life.” Ian adds that the last thing Chief did as he gazed up at Marlone was wag his tail.
An Oklahoma family credits their dog DBoy with protecting them from a gun-wielding intruder who barged into their home. Roberta Trawick says her pit bull leapt to defend her and her family.The intruder, who is still at large, “came in, pointed a gun at me and said, ‘Get down on the ground’,” Trawick told Oklahoma City’s News 9. Then, Trawick says DBoy immediately ran in from another room and was ready to attack. The gunman shot DBoy three times — twice in the head — before running off after apparently being spooked by the dog.
“It is amazing, it’s amazing that he went after that guy, and that I still have a family,” family member Angelic Shoemaker told News 9.
“The vet said if it wasn’t for his hard head he wouldn’t be here,” Trawick said. The family was able to pay for DBoy’s medical bills through donations, the report said.
“I’m sorry my dog got shot, but I still got my family and we still got our dog,” a tearful Shoemaker told News 9. Trawick’s father reportedly rescued 2-year-old dog from an abusive home just three months before the break-in.
Hero Dog of 2008
Article Source: http://www.nationaldogday.com/maya.htm
We chose Maya for this award not only because she saved (Angela Marcelino) her human mommy’s life from an attacker, but because the organization behind National Dog Day, the Animal Miracle Foundation, loves and supports ALL dog breeds. We don’t believe in breed bans and Maya is a testament to the fact that the Pit Bull breed can be hero dogs just like any other breed.
“All dogs are capable of biting and even attacking, but it’s my firm belief that humans are to blame behind the dogs who get a bad rap. Sadly, so many dogs suffer a tragic fate simply because of their breed. Not only is Maya our Hero Dog of 2008, she is what we’re calling our AmbassaBULL to all bull breeds. I was very excited to have a reason to show the world the good side of Pit Bulls” said Colleen Paige, animal behaviorist, author and founder of National Dog Day.
It’s clear, in this situation, as is the case in many life-threatening situations that involve attacks on women, that Angela was fortunate to have a Pit Bull as her protector. But the most heartwarming aspect of this story is that Angela rescued Maya from the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter….and on June 17th, 2007, Maya returned the favor. …Read More
Hero Dog Shot During Home Breakin
Article Souce: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/hero-dog-shot-during-home-breakin-video
When a Fort Myers, FL man, Robert Goode, heard his son’s house next door to his being broken into on Sunday night, he released his son’s two pitbulls, Pepper and Solo, to check out the house. “I ran right back to where the dogs were and turned them loose. Then I told them to get that S.O.B.,” he said.
Within seconds, he heard three gunshots and the the dogs ran out, Pepper with blood on her side. Pepper, wounded but undeterred, went back into the house and the next thing Goode knew he heard glass breaking out of one of the windows as the would-be burglar catapulted himself out of the house, the screen wrapped around his neck.
“I ran to the corner of the house and saw that guy dive out of the bedroom window at the end of the house. He still had the screen wrapped around his neck,” Robert said.
Robert rushed Pepper to the vet, worried that he might have to put her down because of her injuries but after treatment the vet said that Pepper will be about good as new in five weeks or so. Adorned with cone and stitches in her side, she looks pretty spunky in the video.
Aside from the busted from door, broken window and some ransacked drawers, there was no damage to Goode’s son’s home and nothing was taken. I have a feeling Pepper and Solo put the fear of God into the would-be burglar.
More than anything, Goode is happy that Pepper will be fine, even with a $1200 vet bill.
“It’s like having your best friend shot,” said Richard.
Goode says that he hopes the burglar comes back, he’ll be ready next time, “I hope the guy comes back. I’ll be ready for him. I won’t bring a dog to a gun fight.”
So again, as we see more and more cities enacting and trying to enact BSL, we see, yet again, pitbulls as heroes. Way to go Solo and Pepper!! So happy that Pepper will make a full recovery and I am sure she and Solo will both be hailed and the heroes theyare! …See Video1.
Pit Bull saves 2 women from deadly cobra, dies wagging his tail.
Article is from: http://m.examiner.com/examiner/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=mwiJMjcu&full=true#display
“Elko, NV - On Saturday morning, Kathryn Bales, and her service dog, Bonnie, were involved in a serious, roll-over car accident.
Though Good Samaritans tried to pry open the doors, the vehicle was too severely damaged – Bonnie and Kathryn were trapped inside.
Those trying to help finally decided to shatter the windows – Kathryn covered herself and her dog, a 6 yr-old Pit bull, with her coat to protect them from the shards of glass.
Kathryn was still trapped inside of the damaged vehicle – the roof was crushed and she was unable to pull herself free from the wreckage.
Thankfully, Bonnie was there to help. Bonnie did not want to leave her companion Kathryn had to order her out of the car. As Bonnie began to crawl out, Kathryn gripped her service harness and ordered Bonnie to pull.
Bonnie, though shocky and frightened from the horrific car accident, did as she was instructed – she pulled Kathryn free from the damaged vehicle. When the emergency medical teams arrived, they checked out both Kathryn and Bonnie for injuries. Kathryn was transported to a hospital and one of the EMTs went above and beyond – taking Bonnie home until Kathryn was released. By the time that Kathryn was out of the hospital, Bonnie was back to her usual happy, bouncy self. Bales shared the following, I have worked with other breeds, but when Bonnie needs to retire, my next service dog will also be a pit bull. They are an incredible animal and so intuitive to the needs of their handler.
Bonnie and Kathryn have been an inseparable team for five years. Bonnie showed her stuff when she was a mere 4 months of age – another dog “in the running” was trying to be coaxed to pick up a phone and bring it to Kathryn.
Bonnie – still so young and not yet trained – picked up the phone and brought it to Kathryn of her own accord. In that moment, Kathryn knew just how special this pup was.
Good job Bonnie!”
