Pit Bull Dubbed A Hero After Saving Owner Who Was Being Sexually Assaulted
Angelica N. Sumter
A pet dog is being dubbed a hero after saving its owner while she was being sexually assaulted by a strange man in Vista, California, according to the NBC San Diego.
At around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, a 19-year-old woman, whose name has not been released to the public, decided to walk her pit bull in the 700 block of Grapevine Road when an unidentified man attacked her from behind and threw the woman to the ground.
The assailant began groping the woman, but she fought back, attempting to run to safety, to no avail. It wasn't until she called out to her pit bull, who was growling and barking when she ordered him to attack – something she claimed to have never taught her pet dog.
It was reported that the pit bull may have bitten the man during the sexual assault attack causing the attacker to stop and run east bound on Planet Road.
The pit bull chased after the attacker for a short distance before returning back to its owner.
Pit bull returns to owner after chasing strange man away who was sexually assaulting her. [Image By ilbusca/iStock]
A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that "a guy in all black came and ripped her pants, pulled her pants down, and groped her and her dog chased him off."
"Walking a pit bull is what I'm surprised with because that's a lot of gull to go after someone who has a dog that can defend her, and unfortunately, she didn't train that dog to defend her, but fortunately, he did anyway."
The witness reportedly stayed with the victim until police officials arrived at the scene.
"This is a concerning situation. It's concerning to law enforcement. It's concerning for the community because obviously, it's a very brazen act to attack someone in this manner, especially while walking a pit bull," SDSO Lt. Dan Brislin stated.
Neighbors were stunned after learning of the attack, saying that they deemed the area to be a safe place.
"I am very surprised because it seems like a pretty decent neighborhood but I guess that's happening everywhere. I mean, you know, I think it's happening everywhere," resident Jackie Castor said.
Another neighbor, Emily DeArmas, told reporters that she brought her husband along while walking her dog after hearing of the recent attack, saying "it's a little scary when it is a street you walk every day."
Just last month, another pit bull puppy named Apollo, in Brooklyn, New York, saved a woman from being raped. The New York Post reported that 18-year-old Maya Fairweather was at her boyfriend's apartment complex when she decided to take his dog out for a walk around 10 p.m. in the Red Hook Recreation Area Park.
Fairweather told reporters that as she was walking, she felt someone pull on her headphones.
Pit bull chases after man who attacked its owner [Image By Stalexphotpgraphy/iStock]
When she turned around to see who it was, she found a strange man standing before her. He quickly pushed her to the ground and attempted to take her pants off.
"I fell down on my hands," said Fairweather. "I just closed my eyes because they say that if you see their face, they will kill you. I froze. I was really scared."
Just shortly after, the pit bull came to her rescue, biting her would-be rapist in the leg, causing the man to run away.
"He was protective," Fairweather said. "I think it would've been a lot worse. I wouldn't have been so lucky.
"He is a sweet dog. I never thought he would bite anyone. He never bit anyone before. He's usually very friendly and just jumps on everyone."
California police have yet to make an arrest in the most recent sexual assault case and the suspect remains at large, but authorities have turned to the public for help.
The person in question is believed to be "in his mid-20s of unknown ethnicity, around 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighed between 160 – 180 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored beanie, a dark colored hoodie, and unknown colored pants."
If you have any information regarding the attack, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 and a reward of $1,000 may be available to the tipster.
[Featured Image by Dusan Manic/iStock]