A 7-year-old boy from Homestead, Florida, was seriously injured recently while protecting two younger children from a dog attack. Despite suffering wounds to his head, shoulders and arms, he shielded his 4-year-old brother and a friend from the brunt of the bites, The Miami Herald reports.The attack started when the three boys were outside playing at around 7 p.m. The German Shepherd escaped from a nearby building and without any provocation lunged at the trio of kids. Eventually, the boys' father was able to scare off the dog with a shovel, but not before one of his sons acted bravely.
"Upon seeing the dog attack, the 7-year-old grabbed his brother and his brother's friend, the other 4-year-old, throwing them underneath a vehicle, and shielding them from the attacking dog," police spokesperson Fernando Morales told the news source.
Although a shovel may be an effective animal repellent, pepper spray is even more so. When discharged into the face of an attacking canine, it will make it difficult for the animal to see and breathe, allowing a victim to get to safety.
