Texas: Austin Police Department honors young boy for saving sister when their family pit bull attacked her

TEXAS -- Nine-year-old Leeland Gonzales describes his feels as he fought to protect his 10-year-old sister, Jasmine, after she was attacked by their pet pit bull.

"I was scared, I had jelly legs, my mind just went blank," Leeland said.

The incident happened at the family home back in November.

"We were watching [the movie] 'Beethoven' and I forgot what made Riley [their pet pit bull] go crazy. Jasmine was trying to go to the restroom and lock the door." Leeland said,  "And so I got a crutch and started hitting Riley. I tried to give one to Jasmine and I got the other one and I just kept hitting the dog."

Leeland was eventually able to get his sister outside and had a neighbor call for help. When police arrived, the dog attacked again.

"Me and Jasmine were getting into the police car but Riley busted through the metal gate. He tried to attack Jasmine but that's when the police officer shot him," Leeland said.

Police said it was Leeland's actions with the crutch and quick thinking that saved his sister from sustaining more serious injuries. And for that bravery, APD presented him with the Certificate of Bravery.

 

 

"Most kids his age, most adults wouldn't have the intestinal fortitude and wherewithal to think on their feet and be able to not only remove (his sister) from harm's way but summon help in such a quick and calm manner," Assistant Chief Frank Dixon, who presented Leeland with the certificate, said.

Leeland's father, David, said he is most thankful that his family is gathered for a celebration and not a funeral.

"I'm really grateful. I thank God every day that it turned out the way it did. I know it could have turned out a lot worse. I see it every day in the news, kids and people getting attacked by dogs. Especially my daughter being so young and so small and I am really grateful that she is here for this moment. It worked out for the best," Gonzales said.

Jasmine is still healing from her injuries but is in very good health. She will be celebrating her 11th birthday on Monday.

(FoxLA - Dec 3, 2016)

Woman on crutches assaulted trying to save dog from mauling

UNITED KINGDOM -- The incident happened in the War Memorial Gardens in Inchicore, Dublin 8, where Tara Keane (42) had been walking her dog Molly.

Tara, who was on crutches, wants the public's assistance in identifying the couple whose bull terrier mauled Molly, a Westie cross breed.

As she attempted to beat the dog away with her crutches, a woman grabbed her by the arm and pushed her, causing bruising.

 

 

Tara said there is a community of dog walkers who regularly use the gardens and there are never any problems.

While she was walking Molly last Friday evening, another dog approached and the two pets started sniffing each other. The other dog then "launched" at Molly.

"You don't see that many of them [bull terriers]. He went for her, for the throat and pinned her down to the ground.

"He got her by the side of the head. She has a puncture wound a quarter of an inch from her eye and crushed her cheekbone," said Tara.

"I was beating the dog as hard as I could with the crutches. He didn't even flinch. It was like he was in a frenzy," she added.

A man and woman were in charge of the terrier.

"The guy was trying to get the dog off my dog. His girlfriend came over and started on me. She ended up assaulting me.

"I have bruises on my arm where she grabbed me and bruises on my leg where I fell back. She started slapping me about the head. I'm an amputee. I'm disabled. She knew that," said Tara on RTE Radio's Liveline.

She has been disabled since getting a viral infection that necessitated the amputation of her right leg below the knee.

"My dog went off in a panic. I said I'm calling the police and he [the owner] grabbed the dog and ran."

Tara said her dog remains traumatised.

"I took her out for a walk in the park and a little Yorkshire terrier came up and she was terrified."

(Irish Independent - July 30, 2014)

Pennsylvania: Brian Parks stabbed his girlfriend's dog to death because it ate his dinner, police say little boy told them

PENNSYLVANIA -- When police arrived at the home of Brian Parks, they found a shocking scene. As they moved around overturned furniture, they found a trail of blood that led them from the living room into a bedroom where Brian Parks was holding a bleeding dog that he had stabbed only moments earlier.

He told his ex-girlfriend he stabbed her dog after the dog bit him. But her son told a different and far more disturbing story, according to police.

The boy allegedly told Bensalem police that Brian Gregory Parks stabbed the dog for eating Parks’ dinner.

During his trial, Parks claimed that he had stabbed the dog out of self defense after being bitten on the hand. Strangely, the DA withdrew two accounts of animal cruelty and misdemeanor charge of possession of an instrument of crime, even though no evidence was found that supported his version of the story.

Now, Parks will face trial in Doylestown on charges of making repairs to an offensive weapon as well as misdemeanor cruelty to a domestic animal, charges that are less severe.

Reason was not given as to why the charges were reduced, however the case is certainly suspicious. No extensive bite marks were found on the hands of the accused, and while Park’s then-girlfriend could give no witness because she was sleeping, her son told a different story.

Allegedly, Parks was under the influence of drugs or alcohol the night of crime, and became upset after the dog ate his dinner.

According to the boy, Parks began to hit the dog with crutches before he yelled “Now you’re dead,” at which point the dog yelped in pain from the knife – a large, steel blade “Rambo” style knife with metal knuckles. 

The poor animal was stabbed on the lower left side of his body and was soon after euthanized at an animal hospital because he could not survive the injury.

Crimes such as these, where alcohol, weapons, and an emotionally unstable perpetrator are involved, are usually much worse than they appear. An innocent animal was stabbed to death for eating food, and animal cruelty charges should not be reduced in this case.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Brian Gregory Parks
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 01/15/1984
Height: 5'09"
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair Color: BROWN
Eye Color: BLUE
Arrest Age:28
Date:12/03/2012
Total Bond: $100,000
Charges
#1 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
STATUTE: 185511A2I
BOND: $100,000

#2 POSSESSION INSTRUMENT OF CRIME -CRIMINAL INSTRUMENTS
STATUTE: 18907A

#3 MAKE REPAIRS/SELL/ETC OFFENS WEAP
STATUTE: 18908A

#4 DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE-2ND OFFENSE

STATUTE: 753802A1

(WN.com - December 5, 2012)