Karl Vaartjes rescued Deborah A. Fowler and Ryland C. Jacobs from an attacking dog, Mississauga, Ontario, December 8, 2003. Fowler, 36, and her son, Ryland, 4, were playing in the front yard of their house when a 45-pound pit bull and another dog approached. The pit bull attacked Ryland, biting him on the wrist. It then attacked Fowler when she attempted to fight it off. Vaartjes, 43, technical director, who lived about 300 feet away, had seen the dogs earlier and was outside to investigate when he heard Fowler calling for help. He ran toward the scene, and when he had approached to about 10 feet from Fowler and Ryland, the pit bull lunged at him, biting him in the arm. The dog then resumed its attack on Ryland. Vaartjes lifted Ryland by his coat and held him up, out of the dog’s reach, but the dog bit Vaartjes in the leg. Fowler pulled the dog from Vaartjes and secured it while Vaartjes took Ryland to safety. Vaartjes then returned and held the dog to allow Fowler to flee. A police officer arrived within minutes and took control of the dog. Fowler, Ryland, and Vaartjes were taken to the hospital for treatment of their bite and puncture wounds, Fowler’s and Vaartjes’s requiring sutures.
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