Pit bull honored for foiling intruder
Pet Tales
Saturday, July 04, 2009
By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Humane Society of the United States
D-boy was rescued by Jason Chumley who says, "I took him away from people who were mean to him." Three months later D-boy returned the favor, rushing to his family's defense when a gun-wielding man forced his way into their Oklahoma City home.
When Roberta Trawick, 22, screamed, the 85-pound dog ran from a back room and lunged at the intruder. The armed man shot D-boy in the head. When the dog continued his charge, the man fired two more times, hitting the dog in the head and a leg. The man fled. No people were injured.
"It was pretty scary," said Mr. Chumley, stepfather of Ms. Trawick. "D-boy was awake and aware but he was just lying there. It was awful. There was so much blood."
D-boy, 2, was honored as one of five finalists in the 2009 Dogs of Valor Awards sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and PetPlan Insurance. He also won the People's Hero Award as the top vote-getter on the HSUS Web site.
D-boy amazingly survived and made a complete recovery with the help of people from all over the country.
Oklahoma City police officers who responded to the family's 911 call rushed the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic.
"One of the officers said he's never liked pit bulls, but he liked this one," Mr. Chumley said.
Yes, the hero dog is a representative of that much-maligned breed. Yes, pit bulls make headlines when they bite and attack, but other breeds bite without making the news. The media may be part of the problem, say lovers of pit bulls, because "we" seem to pounce on every pit bull attack.
There are many pit bulls in this country, and most of them are loyal, loving pets that never hurt anyone.
Mr. Chumley, by the way, owns a second pit bull named Nala. She "ran and hid in another room" when the armed man burst through the front door.
The first 24 hours were touch-and-go, vets said, but after five days of intensive care D-boy was ready to go home. The family didn't know how they would pay the $1,700 bill.
No problem.
D-boy hit the local news, the story went national and people from all over the country sent donations to cover the veterinary bill.
The home invasion happened last Dec. 5. The armed intruder has never been caught. Mr. Chumley says the family has no idea why they were targeted.
D-boy is as playful and friendly as he was before he shooting, Mr. Chumley said, although he's a bit "edgy" when someone knocks loudly on the front door.
Go to www.humanesociety.org/ dogsofvalor to read about all of the heroic dogs and to submit nominations for the 2010 Dogs of Valor.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09185/981716-62.stm