Bulldog shot after mauling Port Richmond boy

[RamboLiberal]

They all said he was a nice dog. But something inside Zeus snapped this morning.

The American bulldog who loved dog biscuits and backscratches went berserk and attacked an 11-year-old neighbor as the boy and his friend got ready for school in Port Richmond.

Thirteen-year-old Brad Bucher heard his brother screaming and sprinted to help. The scene outside his home on Mercer Street near Tioga seemed straight out of a horror movie: Shane struggled frantically on the sidewalk, Zeus' teeth sunk into his bloodied neck.

"I was trying to push him off, to unlock his jaw. But he was just attacking him," Brad said, four hours after the 8 a.m. mauling.

Neighbor Bill Reynolds had heard the horror unfolding outside too. The 46-year-old Reynolds grabbed his .357 Magnum, bolted toward the boy and dog and aimed carefully, blasting Zeus twice until the hulking dog loosened his grip on Shane. Brad flew off to call 9-1-1 and his dad, who was at work in Nicetown.

Shane, a fifth-grader at Bridesburg School, is in stable condition at St. Christopher Hospital for Children after undergoing surgery. The dog ripped part of his right ear off, bit his neck and chewed his side open, injuring his intestines, his grandfather Ralph Bucher said.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20100512_Bulldog_shot_after_mauling_Port_Richmond_boy.html

[shadowrider]

1. That dog was determined

2 rounds from a .357?

[shedevil69taz]

2. It may not have actually taken more than one

but at that point why take the chance on only one?

[shadowrider]

3. Agreed

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

4. Good thing the neighbor was alert and could intervene.

[Bold Lib]

5. Sounds like that dog was intent on killing the boy. Good thing

there was an armed neighbor to lend help.

[RamboLiberal]

6. More info on the story

Shane was sitting on a couch when the dog jumped up with him, police said. A baby-sitter ordered Zeus to get down, but instead the dog attacked Shane and dragged him outside.

Brad Bucher was in his house when a girl ran up and screamed, "Hurry up! Come out! Your brother's being attacked!" he recalled Wednesday evening.

He went out his front door and saw the dog biting his brother in the neck on the sidewalk. He tried to pull the dog away, but it wouldn't let go, he said. So he called 911. Others tried to beat the dog off but couldn't.

Reynolds then came out with a 9mm handgun and fired once in the air, but that failed to scare off Zeus, Brad Bucher said. Reynolds then shot the dog once and it let go, but then attacked again, he said. Reynolds shot again and the dog relented.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20100513_Bulldog_attacks_boy_in_Port_Richmond.html

[Endangered Specie]

7. SO it want from a .357 to 9mm..

and terrible idea to fire a round into the air, imo...

and the dog taking a shot and then wanting more! Of course odds are the dog would have to have been shot towards the back, as any rounds to the head would be too close to the boy.