The family pet, a husky, suddenly set upon the terrified tot on Tuesday evening, bit him repeatedly and flung him around “like a rag doll”.
Little Reece O’Leary was in a serious but stable condition at Cork University Hospital last night after the frenzied attack.
He was being treated for injuries to his head, back, arms, knees and an upper thigh.
Neighbour Jonathan Curtin, 21, was hailed a hero by locals in Carew Park, Limerick, after he jumped a wall and smashed the crazed mutt with a shovel to save Reece.
Brave Jonathan leapt into action when he heard the toddler’s mother Mags screaming in terror as she struggled to fight off the animal.
He was being treated for injuries to his head, back, arms, knees and an upper thigh.
Neighbour Jonathan Curtin, 21, was hailed a hero by locals in Carew Park, Limerick, after he jumped a wall and smashed the crazed mutt with a shovel to save Reece.
Brave Jonathan leapt into action when he heard the toddler’s mother Mags screaming in terror as she struggled to fight off the animal.
He explained: “The dog was throwing the child up into the air. The child was like a rag doll to the dog.
“The woman was trying to pull the child and the dog was pulling the child in the opposite way. I went in with the shovel and stopped it. I hit the dog.
“He backed off for a few seconds, but he went for him again, so I hit him again.”
Jonathan said the cur tried to attack the bloodied and injured tot another three times.
The humble hero added: “I had to lock the door. Those dogs are bred for taking down bears. I went in not really thinking about the danger. I was just trying to get the lad safe.”
“The woman was trying to pull the child and the dog was pulling the child in the opposite way. I went in with the shovel and stopped it. I hit the dog.
“He backed off for a few seconds, but he went for him again, so I hit him again.”
Jonathan said the cur tried to attack the bloodied and injured tot another three times.
The humble hero added: “I had to lock the door. Those dogs are bred for taking down bears. I went in not really thinking about the danger. I was just trying to get the lad safe.”
Cops also praised Jonathan’s fast reactions, with a source saying: “If he hadn’t jumped in when he did, the child could have died.”
Reece’s mum Mags, dad Ernst and sister Rhiann, five, were at his hospital bedside in Cork last night after he was transferred there from Limerick’s Mid Western.
Reece’s mum Mags, dad Ernst and sister Rhiann, five, were at his hospital bedside in Cork last night after he was transferred there from Limerick’s Mid Western.
 |
| Hero Jonathan |
Jonathan’s parents, Michael, 59, and Eileen, 61, said they were very proud of their son.
Michael said: “The woman’s pants was down from the dog dragging her around the place. They were covered in muck.
“The child had no clothes on him, the dog tore all the clothes completely off of him.
“He had the child in his mouth. Only for Jonathan, the boy was dead.”
Eileen added: “It was the luck of Jesus. I’ll never forget it anyway. Oh my God.”
ISPCA dog warden Frank Coote took the husky away to the pound in Ennis, Co Clare, where it was to be destroyed.
(Irish Sun - April 4, 2012)
