Recognized as Heroes by Organizations and Municipalities - Hero Stories

Risked Their Lives to Stop a Pit Bull Mauling

2011: Winfred Davenport, Sammie Huggins and LaJayron Negrin (Deerfield Beach, Florida) - Recognized for their heroic acts by the City of Deerfield after rescuing Tayla Johnson from a family pit bull attack. Davenport and Huggins "wailed on the dog" with baseball bats until LaJayron arrived with a Ruger and shot the dog to death. Other persons honored were: Lamar McThay, Kevin Johnson, Kurtis Santiago and Myra Velez.
2011: Larry Jones, Steve Thurman and Douglas Rochelle, City Sanitation workers (Dallas, Texas) - Honored by the Dallas City Council for their heroic acts September 13 that saved 9-year old Shannon Craig from the jaws of two pit bulls. While first believing the dogs were "tearing up some trash bags" then realizing it was a young boy, the three men leapt into action. With the aid of a pitchfork, they fought off the dogs and carried the boy to safety.
2011: Adam Gould and Adeel Aslam (Marshfield, Wisconsin) - Honored by Marshfield Police Chief Gary Jepsen after rescuing 5-year old Trystan Weiler from being killed by an attacking pit bull-cross last June. The two men came running when they heard screams. Adam smashed the dog's head with a hammer, but the dog only paused before resuming its attack. Adeel dragged the girl away from the dog. Police later shot and killed the animal.
2011: Sam Granata (Maumee, Ohio) - Presented with the Award of Heroism by the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio after rescuing 11-year old Sarabeth McAdams from two pit bulls. Andre Kynard and Thomas Lydon were given the Good Samaritan Award for their efforts and officer J.D. Dormer was recognized for his actions too. In the same ceremony, Kevin Wehrle was given the Award of Heroism for saving Kayla Irby, 17, in a 2010 pit bull attack.
2011: Joe Auckerman, County Sheriff’s Deputy (Lexington, South Carolina) - Presented with the American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award and Medal of Valor after rescuing 10-year old Kenzie Griffin from a near fatal pit bull mauling. Auckerman shot the dog three times then ran to help the girl, whose right arm was "basically torn from her body" and a cable bound to the dog was still wrapped around her neck. Auckerman was also awarded the Life Saving Award by Woodman of the World Insurance.
2011: Katie Juneau, 23-years old (Lafitte, Louisiana) - Jefferson Parish Council members declared February 2 "Katie Juneau Day" in the Parish after she rescued 9-year old Jacob Maise from an attacking pit bull. Katie suffers from cerebral palsy, but her physical challenges did not stop her from springing into action to save the life of her young friend. Her mother Lori Juneau said that Katie was a Shriner’s Child until she was 18-years old. (Go Katie!)
2011: Cindy Pace (Devonshire, Bermuda) - Honored with a Bermuda Bravery Award from Governor Sir Richard Gozney after rescuing Jeffery Shaw and his dog from a predatory pit bull June 28. Shaw, who had worked as a dog warden, was walking his own dog on Ocean Avenue when the pit bull launched an assault. Pace immediately ran to his aid upon hearing the attack. "I knew this was really serious. I didn't hesitate," Pace said.
2011: Shelter Manager Douglas Norman and Animal Caretaker Kristina Spoon of Prince William County Animal Shelter (Virginia) - Received the Lifesaving Merit Award from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce after rescuing a co-worker from a violent pit bull attack. The dog had been in quarantine for biting three family members. When its owner came to "reclaim" the dog, the pit bull berserked and attacked the co-worker.
2011: Bernard Moultrie, Herbert Swain and Henry Murphy (Savannah, Georgia) - Recognized by Savannah City Council for their heroic acts after saving 7-year old Javon Roberson and other children from two vicious pit bulls June 21 in Treat Park. Both Moultrie and Murphy beat the pit bull latched onto Javon's head with bricks, the closest tools they could find. Swain shot that pit bull dead after it let go of the boy. (Related post)
2011: Dotty the donkey (Yorkshire, England) - Presented with the Certificate of Animal Bravery by the PDSA animal charity after rescuing Stanley, a sheep, from a pit bull's jaws in 2009. When Dotty saw the attack unfold she charged down the field to save him. She pinned the dog to the ground until it let go of Stanley, who lost two teeth and suffered facial injuries in the attack. Dotty is the first "non-dog recipient" of the award. (Craven Desires)
2011: Andrew Hardison (Las Vegas, Nevada) - Received a Certificate of Appreciation from the North Las Vegas City Council after rescuing 15-year old Kyle Foglesong from two attacking pit bulls April 21, 2010. The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross honored his actions with the Adult Good Samaritan Award, and in 2011, The Nevada Chapter Community Associations Institute granted him the Lifesaving Award.
2010: Chris Hedden (Clemson, South Carolina) - Proclaimed a hero by Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy in front of City Council for saving a woman from a charging pit bull. From his truck, Chris saw the pit bull spot Beth Smith walking her dog, Cosmo. When the pit bull charged, Chris grabbed a bar from his truck and took off after the animal. He arrived just in the nick of time, before the pit bull could take its first bite. (Craven Desires)
2010: Anthony Quick, State Police Trooper (Little Rock, Arkansas) - Awarded the Arkansas State Police Lifesaving Medal for rescuing Reverend Charles Causey from four attacking pit bulls June 10, 2009. The dogs had already taken Causey to the ground and were mauling him when Quick arrived. Concerned he might hit the victim, Quick took aim and fired twice, hitting two of the pit bulls and causing the other two to retreat.
2010: Danny Ubario, Lancaster Shelter Manager (Los Angeles County) - Given the Key to the City by Mayor R. Rex Parris after helping rid the city of more than 1,100 dangerous pit bulls. Ubario's sweep of pit bulls followed the 2009 enactment of a vicious dog ordinance by the Lancaster City Council. Since its enactment, violent gang crime -- which includes homicide, rape, robbery, and assault -- dropped a staggering 45%. (Related post)
2009: Dave Kuehnel, East Alton Trustee (East Alton, Illinois) - Honored with the Life Saving Award during the annual banquet of the Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission and Southern Illinois Police Chiefs' Association for risking his life to rescue Kristen Baze from two attacking pit bulls August 19. When Kuehnel saw the dogs mauling her, he began beating the dogs. The dogs then turned the attack on him. (Related post)
2009: Matthew Branon and Amy Harris (Fort Morgan, Colorado) - Honored with the Citizen's Citation of Meritorious Service Award by the Fort Morgan Police Department for saving two dachshunds under attack by a loose pit bull February 16. Despite the risk to their own safety, the two bolted into the yard and prevented the dog from further injuring one of the small dogs. They also kept an eye on the pit bull until police officers arrived.
2009: Tage Wright, 60-years old (Montville, Connecticut) - Honored as a "Good Hammeritan" by the local USPS office after intervening with a hammer to save letter carrier Jeff Glen from two vicious pit bulls. Wright had been doing carpentry work when he heard a commotion and ran outside. "I thought someone was being killed," Wright said. Police had been called to the pit bull owner's home 28 times in the past! (Related post)
2009: Doug Frei, City Police Officer (Pocatello, Idaho) - Presented with a Lifesaving Award and Medal of Valor by the Pocatello Police Department for saving the life of Animal Control Officer Tamara Anderson who endured a life-threatening pit bull attack. One of the bites by the pit bull tore into an artery in her arm and she was bleeding out fast. Frei used his necktie and gun magazine to make a tourniquet to stop the blood flow. (Related post)
2009: Stefan Ray, 50-years old (Omaha, Nebraska) - Honored by the Mayor of Omaha, who declared a "Stefan Ray Day" after he helped rescue 15-month old Charlotte Blevins from an attacking pit bull. After the dog ripped off part of the toddler's scalp, Stefan quickly brought the little girl and her mother into his home. Due to previous medical training, Ray was able to preserve the scalp piece, which doctors reattached. (Related post)
2009: David Miller, County Sheriff's Corporal (Montgomery, Texas) - Presented with the MCSO Life Saving Award after helping to save the life of a 3-year old girl mauled in the face by a pit bull September 10. Miller assisted EMS on scene and volunteered to drive the ambulance so that medics could care for her life-threatening injuries. Paramedics told Miller's supervisors that without his efforts, the child might not have survived. (Related post)
2008: Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando, Florida - Honored with a Pet's Best Friend Award at the 41st Annual Pet Fair at Loch Haven Park by Orlando Science Center officials after saving a Jack Russell from the deadly jaws of a pit bull. In response to the award, Dyer said, "I've been in public office for years, and I think I've accomplished a lot, or a little bit, at least. But I have never had more response from any single thing than this." (Related post)
2008: Jeffery F. Madeira, a data processing manager (Rancho Cordova, California) - Honored with the Silver Award by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the annual Medal of Valor awards ceremony after rescuing a woman from a vicious pit bull. The victim had been walking her dog near Birdcage Center when a pit bull attacked her pet. The woman was knocked to the ground and suffered "savage bites." Madeira bravely fought the dog off.
2008: Collin Jensen, 16-years old (Orem, Utah) - Received the Boy Scouts of America Lifesaving Honor Medal after saving his mother from an attacking pit bull. The dog came onto his family's porch and began attacking a schnauzer in their care. A tug-of-war ensued as Collin's mother tried to pull the schnauzer away. Collin kicked and punched the pit bull's head until the pair managed to wrestle the schnauzer inside their home. (Related post)
2008: Chris Mazza, 16-years old (Vallejo, California) - Honored by the Heroes of Solano County men's group after rescuing his 6-year old brother, Antonio, from an attacking pit bull. The dog, which had jumped into the family's yard, ripped off part of the victim's ear before Mazza could wrestle the muscular animal away. Mazza also picked up his brother's detached ear, washed it off and placed it on ice to go with him to the hospital.
2008: Cody Phillips, 17-years old (Tulsa, Oklahoma) - Recognized as a Hero by Americantowns.com after saving 4-year old Zachary Miller from the jaws of two dogs. Cody heard the boy's bloodcurdling cries for help and vaulted over his neighbor's 6-foot fence. He saw a pit bull and shar-pei dragging Zachary across the yard fighting over his body. Phillips scared the dogs off, but they circled back. He then threw himself on top of the boy to protect him.
2007: Zohnn Griggs (Memphis, Tennessee) - Recognized as a Hero by Americatowns.com after rescuing 58-year old James Chapple, Jr. from two savage pit bulls. Griggs made a u-turn with his two children in the car to help the man. What unfolded was a nightmare: a father wanting to save a man and protect his own family. In the weeks following the attack, Griggs regularly visited Chapple in the hospital. Sadly, he did not survive.

2006: David Ware, 52-years old (Brampton, Ontario) - Honored with a Canadian Medal of Bravery by Governor-General Michaelle Jean after saving a mother and two girls from an attacking pit bull. In 2004, Ware was also a recipient of a Carnegie Medal for this heroic act October 20, 2003. Ware suffered lacerations to his hands and body while he wrestled the dog off the 5-year old girl. His actions allowed the little girl and her family to flee.
2006: Guy J. A. Clairoux (Ottowa, Ontario) - Recognized by the Governor General of Canada with a Medal of Bravery for saving his 2-year old son from three attacking pit bulls. The two had been walking through a park when one of the dogs jumped the fence from a neighboring home and attacked the boy. Clairoux punched the dog in the head until it freed his son. He shielded his son and wife with his own body and suffered the results.
2004: Victor Soto, letter carrier (Las Vegas, Nevada) - Honored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) at the annual Heroes of the Year Awards ceremony for rescuing a boy from a vicious pit bull. After hearing the boy's screams while delivering mail on his route, Soto ran to the youngster and forced the dog off. He then fended off the pit bull's numerous additional attempts to further maul and severely injure the boy.
2002: Kemberley Covarrubias, 15-years old (Three Points, Arizona) - Honored with a Citizen Medal by the Pima County Sheriff's Department after saving her 4-year old brother, Oscar, from further attack by two pit bulls in the front yard of the family's home. Six months after the June attack, Oscar's family was disappointed that no charges had been filed against the dog's owner. The Citizen Medal, granted in November, hopefully lifted their spirits.
1993: Charles Hookstra, City Police Sergeant (Oxnard, California) - Awarded a Medals of Merit by the Peace Officer's Association after rescuing a 10-year old boy and young woman from an attacking pit bull. Hookstra ran to the boy's aid and began yelling to distract the dog from the child onto himself. The pit bull let go of the boy and turned its attention upon Hookstra who drew his service revolver and shot the dog in the leg. The dog retreated.
1989: Charles Oliver Simpson, 11-years old (Alexandria, Louisiana) - Received the Boy Scouts of America Lifesaving Honor Medal after rescuing a young boy from two vicious dogs. Oliver chased away a Doberman pinscher and pummeled a pit bull to make it let go of the boy. The committee chairman for Oliver's Boy Scout troop said, "He went in there and fought those dogs off with a plastic bag, which to me is mind-boggling."