Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker

[omgrobyn]

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."

The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.

The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.

Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.

"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.

"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."

The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.

"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."

Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.

"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.

For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.

"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.

For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot.

The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake.

"It's funny, because we aren't a big place," he said of the Gulf Coast town. "And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It's been a busy week."

Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired.

Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker -- ZooToo Pet News

Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.

[ronaldrose]

yay go angel

[hogar]

great story need more like that

[APBTlover09]

awww, i love hearing stories like this

[hogar]

I had to copy this and sent it out over email great story

[APBTlover09]

i think this story was posted before, and i went to read the other thread.
Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker
i came across this :( :'(
Angel (stray Pit) saved a woman and her toddler son from a knife wielding attacker. Then animal control took him to the pound. The woman whom he saved stated that, if he wasn't adopted, she was going to adopt him.
Well, she reneged on that promise and left this brave and friendly Pit boy to be euthanized/KILLED...some gratitude, right?
Fortunately, rescue workers from Florida came into contact with rescue workers at Midwest Animal Rescue Services in Minneapolis. In a last minute reprieve our brave Pit Baby was transferred to the shelter in Minneapolis. Currently he is undergoing treatment for Heart Worm. Then he will be ready to go to a forever home, or at least a foster home.

If you know anyone who can help out this brave Pit, he can be seen on their website at: http://midwestanimalrescue.org

---------- Post added at 04:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 PM ----------

if this happened, to me. and a stray "pitbull" saved me... i would take the pup home with me.

[hogar]

Well maybe its for the best she did not get the dog hopefully he will find a forever home What is his name on the website anyone know

[APBTlover09]

i don't know. wish someone updated his story.

[DieselPitBull]

i would take that pup home too

[DeeDirtyDawg]

That dog is great. More stories like this!!
Maybe he always wanted to be like stubby

[Atlanta Bully Rescue]

Maybe after having time to think about it she realized she couldn't provide the home he deserved? I'd rather talk someone out of getting a dog than talk them into getting one, there are already too many irresponsible owners that got a dog without considering the responsibility.

[APBTlover09]

I'd rather talk someone out of getting a dog than talk them into getting one, there are already too many irresponsible owners that got a dog without considering the responsibility.

i would do the same thing. i agree with you, we don't need anymore irresponsible owners in this breed.

[4PawsK9Svcs]

Good to hear he at least got his chance! Although, this dog possibly saved her and her child's life, so maybe she could have shown a little gratitude and notified a rescue. They aren't hard to find in FL.

[ashleyandmary]

that's heartwarming. more things like this need to happen.

[bostonitis]

She probably didnt know what a pitbull was went home and googled it and said to herself "he wasnt trying to save me he was trying to KILL the other man! hIDE YOUr bABIES!?!?!"

ugh..jaded much?

[Budboy88]

this story is old, it is a good one though