The internet has a brand new hero today in the form of a protective cat from California named Tara.
Roger Triantafilo posted an amazing surveillance video to YouTube today simply and aptly titled “My Cat Saved My Son.” In the video, 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo is seen playing outside on his bicycle. A neighbor’s dog, since identified as an 8-month-old Labrador/Chow mix, sneaks up behind the child and bites his leg, pulling him down to the ground in the process.
This is when Tara rushes in, hurls the full-force of her body at the dog – knocking it back a number of feet. As the dog regroups Tara is then seen chasing the dog off. Warning – there is some graphic images of the wounds the boy suffered at the end of the video:
Jeremy’s mom, Erika Triantafilo, was close by watering a tree when she heard her son’s screams according to KERO. Erika said, “I didn’t really even realize what had happened until after when my husband showed me the surveillance video.”
Jeremy needed a few stitches but is doing fine now.
The neighbor who owns the dog in question was backing out of their gated driveway when the dog escaped. Sgt. Joe Grubbs, Bakersfield Police spokesman, said the dog will be quarantined for 10 days then euthanized.
The owners of the dog were the ones to dial 911 on behalf of the boy and his mom.
Dad added the following info to the video post:
My cat defends my son during a vicious dog attack and runs the dog off before he can do additional damage. Thankfully, my son is fine!
Question: Why did the mom run away?
Answer: After checking his wounds she made sure the dog did not return for a second attempt. The owners were there also and she was bit by the dog as she tried to pin him in his yard. The owners did get control of the dog and secured him in which she immediately returned to attending to our son. I did not include that video because it was not so much about the dog but about the cats actions.
