BrumbleBeat :: Read topic :: Pitbull stops human attack

by John Tunison | The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday April 09, 2009, 2:29 PM

HOLLAND -- A 2-year-old pit bull named Blitz is getting the hero treatment today after he frightened a man dragging his estranged wife across a street in a possible abduction attempt.

The 33-year-old suspect had broken into the Thomas Avenue home where his wife was staying, then began dragging her across nearby South Shore Drive when Blitz bolted into action.

"I didn't think he had it in him, but I guess he did," said the dog's proud owner, also credited for helping the victim escape her attacker.

The 32-year-old pet owner, who didn't want to be named, heard the woman screaming in the street about 11 p.m. Wednesday and came out of her South Shore Drive duplex apartment to help. At the same time, Blitz raced past her and out the door.

The gray pit bull made an aggressive beeline straight for the suspect. As Blitz came near, the man let loose of his wife, enabling her to break away and get inside the dog owner's apartment.

Blitz, described as a gentle dog who likes to lick faces, never attacked the suspect.

"I thought he was going to attack him, though," said Blitz's owner, who managed to drag her dog back inside her apartment.

The dog owner, who raised Blitz from a puppy, said she believed the attacker would have made it to his car without Blitz's imposing presence.

"The man was very determined," she said.

Holland police said the estranged husband, who at some point was armed with a kitchen knife, broke a rear glass door to get inside the victim's home. He then entered her bedroom and assaulted her. She managed to momentarily break free and flee the home, then started screaming in the street in her bathrobe before he chased her down.

"The dog created enough of a distraction where it created a window of opportunity for her to run," Holland police Capt. Rick Walters said.

Police arrived at the scene moments after the 32-year-old victim, Blitz and his owner got into the apartment. The man was pacing in the apartment's front yard for a minute or two before police arrived and arrested him.

Police recovered a knife at the scene.

"I think my dog kind of kept him away from coming closer to the apartment," Blitz's owner said.

The victim told the dog owner that her husband broke into the home using a hammer and had sent her suicidal text messages earlier in the day.

Holland District Court officials said they expected the suspect to be arraigned today on charges of first-degree home invasion and domestic violence.

'Good boy' is all I can say, sheesh!!!