After we watched this video last year, and cried a thousand tears, we wrote to the Cleveland Heights Police Department, thanking them for releasing it. At that time we did not place it on the blog, fearing too many of our readers who have suffered a serious dog attack would react the same way. That fear still holds true today. This video is so tactile that it may cause victims to relive their own attack. We mean that too. It could unleash a torrent of powerful emotions and tears.
The video shows the vulnerability of a traumatized victim and the comforting words of this officer, “Just lean on me.” That is truly how it happens and what first responders do every second of every day in our country when responding to life-threatening emergencies. In this instance, the officer arrived just in time too, shooting the pit bull and averting additional injuries. But arriving just in time is not always possible and is another reason why some cities regulate this dog breed.
The video also shows how the officer helps the victim breath. “In your nose, out your mouth. In your nose, out your mouth,” he says while placing his hand on her shoulder to stabilize her. “Stay awake for me. The ambulance is coming,” the officer says. At this time (about 2 minutes and 20 seconds in), more police officers arrive and a siren is faintly heard in the background. The officer quickly explains to the others what happened. The bodycam video ends when the firemen arrive.
Portion of our letter to Cleveland Heights Police Chief:
There are two extremely jarring, but heavenly moments in a violent dog attack. The moment you realize you are not dead, and the moment you realize you will be okay. That is exactly what that video showed and the part of my own attack experience that came back to me. The victim had not reached this point yet, but the officer had and the viewing audience had too. We knew she was safe and was going to be okay.
Watching the officer help this young woman was just sheer powerful awesomeness! Up close, intimate and hands on. The way it really goes down!
Thank you and God bless the Cleveland Heights Police Department! - Colleen Lynn, Founder of DogsBite.org, January 29, 2016
A day after the news media aired the raw footage, Chante Pray, 22, spoke with Fox 8 Cleveland. She describes the attack as the media cuts back to the video. “I’m dying, that’s all I could think was, that I was dying,” she said. The dog was “clamping down tighter” as she struggled to get away, she explained. Pray was amazingly able to call 911 and shout out the address. Moments later, Cleveland Heights police officer Everett Haworth arrived on scene and shot the pit bull.
Holding back tears, Pray says, “I really appreciate the officer saving me, because if he wouldn’t have saved me, I wouldn’t be with my daughter. My daughter would not have a mom.” At the time of the attack, the pit bull was “supposed” to be in quarantine after biting a child on January 13. Pray knows the dog’s owner and believes the false myth, “It’s all how they’re raised.” After Pray was attacked, police cited the owner for keeping a vicious dog and failing to have insurance.
GMA aired video of a half dozen firefighters scrambling to get up on a counter to escape a Pitbull that was wagging its’ tail to beat the band. Those tails hurt when they whip you.
I am always in awe, gratitude & praise for all our first responders as well as our military. How they handle and deal with these horrendous tragedies is beyond me. I thank God for them.