The local news reports said that the little girl had fed and walked the dog on a leash (with the owner's permission) in the past. This story says that the dog had been caught just like this before and she had helped him, just as she did this time.
In addition, the owners helped restrain the dog for Animal Control, who wanted to observe the dog. They have already let Animal Control know that they don't want the dog back.
You know, I have even seen horses percieved to be gentle go bezerk at times. Too often humans think of animals in human terms. Animals do not think in terms of human law, only owner law. If the owner does not instill a code of conduct to an animal then he has no guidance. Even if the animal is trained, during an event of distress, it will often as not revert to animalistic behavior to survive. A human being will do the same thing at times.
But no one helped her...she could not know the danger she was in.
Too bad there are no responsible adults in this tragic story.
Even knowledgeable adults would be very cautious when safely freeing a dog truly caught by his collar on a fence. (Muzzled dogs have been known to break their own necks trying to free themselves from fences that catch their muzzles.)
Btw, never ever chain a dog, either.