A pit bull will be returned to his owners after saving a 9-year-old boy that was thrown into a river by his mother.
Authorities said the pit bull, whose name is Buddy, will not be put down for mauling a 9-year-old boy because he was attempting to save the child’s life after he was thrown into a river by his mother, the Daily Mail reported.
‘”It is likely that the dog was acting in reasonable defense of the nine-year-old boy that was subsequently hospitalized,’” Murray River Council interim general manager Margot Stork said in a press release, according to the Riverine Herald. ‘”The NSW Police have advised council that they will not be seeking an order to destroy this animal.’”
‘”The dog is well and presently being cared for in a Murray River Council facility,’” Stork added.
‘”Since the incident, we have microchipped the dog and are working with the dog’s owner to register the dog and set up the appropriate conditions to enable the dog to return home.
‘”The owner has visited the dog at council’s facility and is working with us to ensure compliance with all obligations under the Companion Animals Act.’”
The decision came shortly after a petition to “Help Save Buddy” was started. In the description, the petition recounted the incident, and made the argument that Buddy was indeed trying to save the boy:
On the 2nd of march 2017 a mother of 2 has attempted to drown her children in the Murray river at moama. In this selfish mothers attempt to drown her 2 boys buddy the dog has reacted and attempted to save the boys in doing so he has bit the eldest boy in his rescue attempts unfortunately he was unable to save the youngest boy and has also bit the mother. Buddy is his name and he is a pitbull cross and has since been seized from his owners who are distraught by not only what this mother has done but also that our dog has been seized when he should be [labeled] a hero instead. Buddy doesn’t have a history of being a dangerous dog and most certainly hasn’t ever bitten anyone and has never been seized before for anything. Buddy is a member of our family and has grown up around children his whole life and has been the most [gentele] dog, he has clearly seen a child in distress and attempted to help, dogs don’t have hands to help like us humans they have to use their teeth and in doing so it’s being [portrayed] as [if] this dog has attacked the young boy.
The petition collected more than 45,000 signatures before being closed.
The 9-year-old boy is currently being treated for dog bites at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The 5-year-old’s body was found in the river on March 4.
Their mother, whose name was not released, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
Sources: Daily Mail, Riverine Herald, Go Petition / Photo credit: Twitter via Daily Mail
