Pit bull's courage saves city couple

[Carolk9s]

[b]The subject line is exactly how it is printed in todays Richmond VA newspaper. GOOD Pit bull press but a sad story too as you will read.[/b]

Here's the link followed by the story.
[url]http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031781927094&path=%21news&s=1045855934842[/url]
"The dog is shot and killed while defending his family from three masked intruders."

"Three men wearing ski masks burst through the back door and into the kitchen. The first man drew a gun and ordered Travis Rappold, 21, his girlfriend Amanda Searle, 18, and their three friends to lie down.

Enter Rock, Rappold's 75-pound pit bull. The dog jumped up from his seat at his master's feet and ran out from under the table toward the armed assailant.

"They yelled 'get that pit' and I yelled 'get him, Rock,'" said Rappold, recalling last Sunday's incident at his apartment on Rossmore Road in South Richmond.

Backpedaling, the gunman fired once, striking the dog in the chest. Rock kept going.

The intruders fled through the back door and scattered.

Rappold shut the door before Rock could keep chasing the three men.

Moments later, the injured pit bull collapsed as he tried to crawl to the second floor bedroom where he slept.

Rock died in Rappold's arms before he could try to administer first aid.

"Nicest dog in the world, but he was 75 pounds of muscle and pretty intimidating," Rappold said Thursday.

Rappold had rescued Rock from an abusive situation only a year before. When adopted, the 5-month-old pup "was just skin and bones," Searle said. "Travis saved him . . . and he came back and saved Travis."

Richmond police Detective Kevin Hathaway said the victims likely would have "been assaulted and robbed, if not killed, if it were not for Rock, who gave his life defending his owners from harm."

No arrests have been made in the case."


Contact Samuel Spies at (804) 649-6331 or [email][email protected][/email]
The newspaper has a photo of Rock, he was black with a white chest and white feet.

[GIXXSTER]

Now that dog should get some kind of award.

[CincoandDahlilasgirl]

Good dog! RIP Rock.

I hope some1 bsl everywere reads this story and thinks twice about the bans if it was passed by them.

[AllAmericanPUP]

:cry: :cry:

[courtnek]

I agree with K, sadly. Hi by the way, havent seen you in a while. hows it going?

what most people dont understand is that Rock wouldd've kept going even if Travis had said nothing. he was not trained to attack, probably didnt even understand the words, but was encouraged by his owners tone to keep going. the "get him" was in affect to frighten the gunman, and when the dog didnt stop, even after being shot, thats exactly what happened.

neither of my dogs are attack trained, but I can yell "get 'em" and that will rev them up even farther. its the tone of voice and the excitement that gets imparted to the dog, not training.

RIP Rock.....Good dog!