Dog Saves Girl From Sex Offender Attack

On National Puppy Day it seems all too appropriate that one Florida shelter dog is being lauded for her heroic efforts as woman's best friend.

When a 17-year-old girl left St. Petersburg's Friends of Strays animal shelter to walk a dog, she never imagined her volunteer work would lead her to be the one in need. But as Fox News reported, when she walked on a path behind the building with Mabeline, a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, that's exactly what happened.

According to local television station WTSP, registered sexual predator Michael Bacon chased the girl, grabbing her hair and pinning her to the ground. The 38-pound dog began barking, scaring the attacker off enough that the volunteer was able to flee, People reported.

The brave puppy has since been adopted by Mary Callahan, who did not know about her new pet's valiant actions until notified by WTSP.

"I looked at my dog and I thought, 'You are a hero,'" Callahan told the broadcaster.

Bacon has been arrested, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and hopefully Mabeline will be rewarded with her own slice of bacon.

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Comments

[Anarcho-Capitalist]

10:27 AM on 03/28/2012

At what point do we stop allowing violent sexual predators back into our society? They CANNOT be rehabilitated!!

[modelaford]

04:58 AM on 03/28/2012

What a great story. This dog deserves all of the love and attention she gets. Kudos to her!

[tchoupitoulav1]

09:18 PM on 03/27/2012

That is NOT a RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK!!!! I have 3, I know. Maybe mixed with one but not a full blooded one. I wish people would get things right before they report. Sigh!

[TracyA]

03:25 PM on 03/28/2012

The article calls her a "Rhodesian Ridgeback mix".

[tchoupitoulav1]

10:20 AM on 03/29/2012

tracyA- You're right. My bad.

[tchoupitoulav1]

09:16 PM on 03/27/2012

Too bad the dog didn't have a chance to bite his testicles off and done us all a favor of getting rid of this PIG=BACON!

[Fenrir Lokison]

07:17 AM on 03/27/2012

I thank God that most bonding animals have not lost their natural intents to protect those around their companions from evil.

Great job Mabe...I hope you live a long and happy life with your new family.

[sbmulqueen]

09:28 PM on 03/26/2012

How did this story (which is great) become a bash Florida thread? Are there no S.O.ers living in other states? We could turn it around and say Florida dogs are better. No, I don't live in Florida (although I did for a long time), and yes, Florida has its share of loons (Rick Scott) and wacky stories, but this isn't one of them.

Meanwhile, good doggie.

[ipleathe5thh]

03:04 PM on 03/26/2012

See dogs arent as stupid as they look sometimes....Last January i recued a pup from the side of the highway and my wife was 6 months pregant at the time and right away within days he became very protective of my wife. Unless he knew you, You couldn't get close to her and he'd even bark and sneer at me when i'd kiss her and he became very protective of my girls too and when our youngest was born in may he and still does stand guard at her door whenever she's in her crib or if she's playing he's near by and unless i tell him it's okay you can't get anywhere near her he's a little weenier dog but he thinks he's a pitbull and it's makes me feel good knowing that my girls are protective and he'll let us know if somethings wrong. He helped save my little girls life over the summer she had a history of seziures well she had a very bad one and quit breathing we were in the kitchen doing dishes and making dinner and he came in and started barking and going in circles telling us to come with him and he led us to Alexis and we were able to do CPR in time it's just amazing how loyal dogs are

[Carla van der Meer]

02:56 PM on 03/26/2012

hopefully this story will inspire more people to consider rescue dogs over pet store or designer dogs. Sometimes it seems that there is more compassion and humanity in canines than their is in people.

[ipleathe5thh]

03:08 PM on 03/26/2012

Rescue dogs seem to have more sense of Loyality and Loving because they know what could have been.....I rescued a pup from the side of the highway last Janurary and right away he became protector of my wife and my daughters. All of my dogs have been rescues and those dogs need homes more then pet store and designers because they know you picked them for a reason. not saying other ones arent but Rescues just seem to be more passionate about showing you love and thanks because they could have been put down while pet store dogs won't be put down.....Also i'm getting fed up with the reps Pit Bulls get... It's not the dog it's the owner Pit Bulls are the most loving and loyal dogs out there and too many of them are dying without ever knowing what love it and it's sad i had a Pittie for 10 years and she never once snarled or growled at someone Pitties need love too

[Carla van der Meer]

04:39 PM on 03/26/2012

Agreed. I have had a pit bull and a rottweiler in the past, and they were amazing dogs. My family had reservations about the pit bull being around my infant, but he ultimately dies to protect the two of us. I hate to see breeds being maligned because of negligent or cruel owners. Keep up the good work. Peace to you and yours.

[Anne Marie313]

02:05 PM on 03/26/2012

The great thing about dogs is that they have loyalty. You don't need to train a dog to protect you because most will sense their master is in danger. I had a German Shepherd growing up that would have jumped out in front of a bus for anyone in our house hold. The woman that adopted the dog is one lucky woman to have such a loyal and wonderful dog in her home.

[ipleathe5thh]

03:10 PM on 03/26/2012

I rescued a pup last janiaury from the side of the highway and right away he became our protector you can't get anywhere near my wife or my girls without an okay from me or my wife our youngest was born in May and ever since we brought her home he sleeps in her room and unless he knows it's okay you arent getting anywhere near her or any of my other girls he's just a little weenier dog but you'd think he was a Pitbull

[FarookEnterpris]

01:48 PM on 03/26/2012

Good Dog... belly rub

[ipleathe5thh]

03:11 PM on 03/26/2012

Don't forget the treat gotta have a treat then a belly rub

[DaWiddaPuppy]

01:27 PM on 03/26/2012

When you teach your dog to bark, use "PROTECT!" as the verbal command. It's just a specific sound to the dog, but a human might be dumb enough to believe you have a guard dog.

[Carla van der Meer]

02:58 PM on 03/26/2012

Excellent suggestion, thanks.

[DaWiddaPuppy]

01:19 PM on 03/26/2012

Most of my family have lived in the panhandle for more than 50 years and I still visit regularly. Most folks are decent enough, but this state has the trashiest of the trash living there.

[ipleathe5thh]

03:12 PM on 03/26/2012

Just curious what does this have to do with the story itself?

[DaWiddaPuppy]

01:14 PM on 03/26/2012

Good protect, Mabeline, good protect! Anytime DaWidda alerts, you better believe we check it out.

[minnieme213]

12:15 PM on 03/26/2012

i dont know what to say but i have a sister that lives there so stop talking about florida

[St Ansgar]

07:08 AM on 03/26/2012

I am tired of seeing Florida in the news due to the inconceivable amount of stupid people that live their. I think that it is about time for Florida, and its population, to literally be blown off the continent. Newt, mitt, or Rick, it doesn't really matter, can go with them and be their god-king.

[Dogzilla]

09:26 AM on 03/26/2012

I would agree with you except I live in Florida too.

Besides, anyone who is going to comment on the stupidity of other people should probably understand the difference between "there," "their," and "they're," lest one become the object of one's own derision.

[Anne Siperek]

11:13 AM on 03/26/2012

haha great come back. I live in florida, too. Along the sw gulf coast. I love it here. Jersey was a lot more dangerous and cold and icy and expensive. Jersey also would fit into Florida at least 3 times, so there are more nuts because there is more land mass. Also, sadly, it seem that criminals and outcasts love the warm weather too! But really folks, Florida , at least where I live, is truly a wonderful place.

[St Ansgar]

03:19 PM on 03/26/2012

I must be one of the few people to have ever made a typo. Thank you for the recognition.

[Hillary Wentz]

11:42 AM on 03/26/2012

Your comment would be much more credible if you could differentiate between "there" and "their".

[St Ansgar]

03:18 PM on 03/26/2012

Sorry for the typo. Apparently typo's raise more commentary than content.