Mayor Saves Dog from Jaws of Pit Bull

March 13, 2008

ORLANDO – An ordinary run through his neighborhood turned into an unexpected wrestling match with a pit bull for a Florida mayor Sunday afternoon.

Buddy Dyer, mayor of Orlando, was on the finishing leg of a jog through his College Park neighborhood when he saw a pit bull dart past him.

“I noticed out of the corner of my eye this pit bull go jogging past me,” Dyer said. “The pit bull just immediately ran across the street and grabbed the little Jack Russell by the neck.”

Elaine Judy’s nine-year-old terrier, Alli, who was being walked near her home, was targeted by the stray pit bull.

She said the pit bull locked its jaws around Alli’s neck for no apparent reason.

“It was a pretty awful scene,” Judy said. “All I could see was my dog on her back, with the pit bull’s big old head on her throat. Her eyes were wide open, and she was just gagging with her tongue hanging out. I was yelling for somebody to help, and fortunately he was right there.”

The mayor, who grew up with a pit bull named Charlie Daniels, ran over without hesitation and tackled the dog.

“I jumped on the back of the pit bull and grabbed the skin on both sides of its neck with both hands, so it couldn’t shake the little Jack Russell and break its neck,” Dyer said. “When I’m sitting on its back, I didn’t know whether it was going to turn around and attack me or attack the woman, so I was just hanging on with everything I had.”

While she still screaming for help, Judy began hitting the dog, so hard her hand was bruised the next day.

But the 60-pound pit bull still would not release the terrier and the struggle continued on for several minutes.

After what seemed like “10 minutes, but it was probably less,” Dyer said the pit bull turned Alli loose enough for him to pull the animal away, while an onlooker scooped up the injured terrier.

Fortunately, the pit bull calmed down after the release and did not act aggressively towards the humans, who then coaxed the wayward dog into a garage, where it stayed until Orange County Animal Control arrived.

The officers have not yet been able to determine who owns the dog, which was not wearing a collar at the time of the attack. Spokeswoman Kat Kennedy said the agency will determine whether the pit bull is a danger to public safety.

Meanwhile, Alli – short for alligator, because Judy is a University of Florida fan – is home recovering after being rushed to an emergency veterinarian and treated with antibiotics for bite wounds.

While Dyer might be labeled as a hero, some contend otherwise.

“My wife didn’t think it was such a heroic thing,” Dyer said. “She said, ‘Are you crazy?’ ”

Tell us what you think under this story. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.