Cop, dog owner attacked by pit bull

NEW ZEALAND -- A police officer had to fight a pit bull terrier and pin it to the ground after it mauled its teenage owner.

Police say the dog turned on its 17-year-old handler over the weekend during a walk in Sunnyvale, west Auckland.

The dog, which belonged to the teen's father, began attacking the boy around 9:45am on Saturday.
Witnesses who heard his screams called emergency services.

When 28-year-old Constable Ben Klinkenberg arrived he found the teenager on the ground on his back being savaged by the dog.

INJURED: Constable Klinkenbberg was
 injured after the dog turned on him too.

The pit bull was biting the teen and dragging him around when the constable sprayed the dog in the face with his pepper spray.

The dog let go of the teen's arm and he ran to safety.

That's when the pit bull attacked the officer and latched onto his chest, tearing his special security vest.

The constable managed to radio for help and for the next few minutes fought with the dog, which bit him several times on both forearms. The dog also bit into and punctured the constable's can of pepper spray.



BANDAGED: A shot from Facebook of
Constable Ben Klinkenberg's bandaged arms.

The policeman pinned the pit bull to the ground and held him there until more officers arrived.

The dog was seized by Animal Control, while the officer and teenager were taken to taken to hospital.

The teen was treated for a number of dog bites that will require plastic surgery. The constable had bites and punctures to both forearms that required stitches.

His supervisors have commended his bravery in stopping the dog from attacking other people.

"His bravery in managing to wrestle the dog to the ground and hold it there, even though he was injured, is highly commendable" Superintendent Bill Searle, district commander of the Waitemata police, said.
 
"I've spoken to him this morning and thanked him for a job very well done, and I'm sure the public will be thinking the same."

(3News NZ - July 21, 2014)