Local media in Tampa, Florida, USA are singing the praises of 8-month-old Legend, a mastiff-mix dog, which decided he didn’t like the nasty men in his house who hit his owner with a pistol and were holding his owner’s girlfriend  Mersadie Wells-Shahan by the head in the process of tying her up.

Leaping at the intruders, the pup was shot twice, once in the head and again in the shoulder. The head shot exited near Legend’s ear and the shoulder one came out near his hip. However, Legends attack on the intruders gave Shahan time to scream for help and the robbers fled… but not before

Legend managed to take a chunk out of one of them with a well aimed bite.

Shahan explained to reporters that Legend is normally a very sweet dog, although rather protective of his family. “The vet says that he’s bulletproof,” she remarked proudly after receiving news that Legend is expected to make a fully recovery… apart from having to wear of ‘head-funnel’ which, “he hates!” she said.

Deputies were on the scene of the crime pretty quickly and established a perimeter with a view to flushing out the offenders who could not have gone too far. This proved to be a good move as two men answering the description of two of the attackers were found just a few streets away and, wouldn’t you know it, 23-year-old Michael Rivera, appeared to be hiding his left hand, which when checked bore the unmistakeable wound of a fresh dog bite.

Rivera is now lounging in Hillsborough County Jail after being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, armed burglary and, of course, animal cruelty. Four other suspects are still outstanding after the search was called off due to bad weather.

As for Mr. Rivera, well, the .40-caliber pistol, loaded magazines and roll of duct tape that were found near where he was arrested are not doing his chances of getting away with it much good at all, no doubt even less when the items are checked for DNA and fingerprints.

Let’s hope that hand doesn’t mend too soon…

 

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