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AK370Z · 11-20-2008, 10:44 PM

90-Pound Dog Attacks Girl Unprovoked

Actual 911 Call

Quote:

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. -- A man rescued his daughter from an attack by a 90-pound pit bull that continued to attack, biting the man in several places Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Steven M. Hehr, 31, of Gladstone, and his daughter, Jayda Kempas, 7, were recovering Thursday as she waited to go into surgery for her injuries after the vicious attack that left them both injured and the dog dead, Strovink said.

Hehr was inside a home on Southeast 172nd Street in Happy Valley when he heard Jayda's screams outside, Detective Jim Strovink said.

The staff sergeant with the Oregon National Guard immediately ran outside to find the 90-pound dog with its jaws latched onto his daughter's leg as it attempted to pull her off the tire swing on which she'd been playing, Strovink said.

Hehr ran to Jayda's aid and used his hands to pry the dog's mouth open and turn its attention to him, allowing the girl to run to safety, Strovink said.

"I thought my fingers were gone. It was life or death to me, because my daughter is so small and the dog was so big. If he had got my daughter off the swing, it would have been over. If I wouldn't have been out there it would have been over," Hehr said.

Witnesses said the dog then began to attack Hehr, biting him on the thigh and attempting to attack his torso as he tried to wrestle it to the ground, Strovink said.

Three other men were also there and helped Hehr with the rescue effort: Ian Tovar, 27, of Clackamas; William Bahler, 47, of Happy Valley; and Alan Clinansmith, 44.

Pictures Father Fights Pit Bull To Save Daughter - Photos - KPTV Portland

Tovar grabbed Jayda and carried her inside the home, wrapped her leg in his T-shirt and called 911, Strovink said.

While the girl was being taken to safety, the dog tore apart Hehr's pants while biting him on the leg and then the chest before he managed to get the dog in a headlock and use his body to pin the animal to the ground, Strovink said.

The dog continued to try to attack Hehr and fought to free itself as he tried to hold it on the ground, causing Hehr to yell for someone to kill the dog, Strovink said.

Bahler grabbed an aluminum baseball bat and began to beat the dog on its legs and back as hard as he could with no effect, Strovink said.

Then Clinansmith took the bat and continued to hit the dog until Clackamas County sheriff's Deputy Greg Martin arrived, Strovink said.

As the dog continued to resist being restrained and tried to attack, Martin realized he had no other choice and shot the dog, eliminating the threat, Strovink said.

"Had it not been for the father being present and pulling the dog from the child, that girl most probably would not have survived the attack," Martin said.

American Medical Response arrived and provided medical attention to the father and daughter, and both were taken to Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital for treatment.

Jayda suffered severe lacerations to her lower right calf and puncture wounds on her upper left thigh area. She was later transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where she was scheduled to have surgery Thursday to repair the damage, Strovink said.

"Jayda is a real trooper, is expected to recover and is presently in good spirits," said Hehr, who served two tours of duty, one in Iraq and another in Afghanistan.

Hehr had his arm in a sling having dislocated his shoulder in the fight and also suffered bite wounds to his hands, chest, legs and arms, Strovink said.

The dog's body was kept for forensic examination to confirm that it was properly vaccinated and no threat of rabies is present.

The dog's owner was identified as Rick Harrison, 37, of Gresham.

Deputies said they don't expect criminal charges to be filed in this attack but wouldn't rule out civil action.