Another Pitbull Story -Stray Dog Saves Woman

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."

The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.

The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.

Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.

"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.

"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."

The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.

"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."

Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.

"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.

For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.

"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.

For a small town with a population of 46,452, animal control officers were kept busy Monday afternoon. Jones says they department also responded to a report about a boa constrictor in a church parking lot.

The snake found its way into a car engine and was able to be removed without being harmed. It took three people to move the massive, seemingly random placed snake.

"It's funny, because we aren't a big place," he said of the Gulf Coast town. "And we can go for four or five months without the media contacting us about a story. It's been a busy week."

Officers from the responding county sheriff's office canvased the area and were unable to locate the suspect described as being in his 20s, tall and dark haired.

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Pet Pulse reporter Amy Lieberman and NBC-2.com contributed to this article.

Twila, that's a very cool story. Pitbull's get a bad rap due to a small handful of people
who should be shot & p*ssed on. Our farm dogs are pitbulls, who happen to be the
playmates of children and the protectors of kittens...and they keep the farm safe too.

The Pitbulls even raised a Piglet (who thought he was another Pitbull, and that Pig
became very territorial and vicious, but ultimately very tasty) that was dropped off at
our farm. You knew to stay in your vehicle until invited out when two Pitbulls and a
monster sized pig would run to your car.

We finally had to put down the oldest Pitbull shortly before Christmas last year (and She
is missed...the pig, not so much), but that old dog caught and ate more mice than all the
barn Cats combined I'd be willing to bet. It took nine months for the lost to dim with time,
to bring home another pup. Below is now the new oldest dog (who use to be the youngest
one).

Ron,

I have seen and heard these stories about them getting a bad rep. But it's not true. Too bad about the put down, been there more than once. How you ate the pig is beyond me but hey that's your biz.
New guy looks great. Best to him and to you.

regards,
scratch