Pair saves boy from father’s pit bull

By RAYMOND L. SMITH Tribune Chronicle
The 6-year-old Youngstown boy who was attacked by his father’s pit bull dog Sunday evening has been released from St. Elizabeth Health Center and is staying with relatives.

The men credited with leaping a fence to save the boy’s life recounted their struggles with the animal on Monday.

William Greer, 53, and James Rozenblad, 53, were at Greer’s home at 1422 Elizabeth, Youngstown, about 8 p.m. when they heard screaming.

They ran outside to see Lori Thomas, who was baby-sitting Paul Richardson Jr. at 1416 Republic Ave., yelling, ‘‘He’s going to kill him. He’s going to kill him’’ as the pit bull had the boy’s head in its mouth.

The two men leapt over the fence. Rozenblad grabbed a baseball bat and Greer said he grabbed a steel garden rake and they started beating on the dog, while trying to be careful not to hit the child.

As they managed to flip the dog over, it momentarily released the boy’s head, which allowed Wanda Greer, William’s wife, to grab the child for a few seconds.

However, before she could run to safety, the dog clamped his jaws around the boy’s neck, William Greer said.

Concentrating his attack to the dog’s neck, Greer said he hoped to cut off its oxygen, forcing him to release the boy. Rozenblad continued to beat the dog across the body, Greer said.

The 7-year-old pit bull once again momentarily released the boy, but managed to grab the child’s arm before he could be pulled free, Greer said.

The two men continued their attack on the dog, again trying to cut off its oxygen supply.

‘‘Pit bulls have a high threshold for pain,’’ Greer said.

Finally, the dog released the boy, allowing Mrs. Greer to pass the child into his baby-sitter’s arms. Thomas already had called for an ambulance and the police. She rode with him in the ambulance.

When the city’s dog warden arrived, he captured the pit bull and seized a second dog.

The dogs belong to Paul Richardson, the boy’s father, who lives at 1416 Republic.

‘‘Paul is a good father and a good pet owner,’’ Greer said. ‘‘The dog has never attacked anyone or has bitten anyone before this happened.

‘‘This is a freak accident. Paul does not fight his dogs. He feeds and care for them as he is supposed to do. He is very responsible.’’

Richardson could not be reached from comment.

The dog typically is kept in a cage, Greer said. It bit through some aluminum ties at the bottom of the cage and crawled under it to escape and attack the boy.

‘‘I just thank God we were there,’’ Mrs. Greer said. ‘‘If we would have arrived a minute or two later...’’

Rozenblad said they were not worried about their own safety.

‘‘I lost my only son a couple years ago,’’ Rozenblad said. ‘‘I would have done anything to save the boy.’’



rsmith@tribune-chronicle.com