Take a good look. Doesn't he seem like the vicious pitbull we have been warned about? Temperamental and treacherous? He'll attack family members, even children. Well, actually, he was far from it. I said that in the past tense because Chief is no longer with us on this Earth. Two human beings are alive today because Chief gave his life for them. How many people do you know who are willing to make that last full measure of devotion? He saved an 87-year-old Liberata la Victoria and her granddaughter Maria Victoria Fronteras from a cobra that slithered through an opening in the family’s kitchen. The confrontation left two dead, but let two others live out their lives. This was in Cagayan de Oro City (Philippines) in February, 2007. Chief's story is one that hardcore anti-pitbull people would have trouble understanding and accepting. But, here it is whether they like it or not. Those who are plain ignorant about the breed might free themselves from this prison by giving Chief the credit that he so rightfully deserves. Pitbulls are neither traitors nor salivating, blood-thirsty killers of humans. Chief's courageous story is beautifully recounted here by Herbie Gomez at the Cagayan de Oro Journal:
Friday, February 16, 2007 Dog saves family from cobra, is killed... CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Feb 16) – A pit bull terrier proved beyond doubt that a dog can become a man’s best friend when it saved and gave its life for its master’s wife and her grandmother in Barangay Lapasan here. The dog named “Chief,” saved 87-year-old Liberata la Victoria and her granddaughter Maria Victoria Fronteras from a cobra that snaked through an opening in the family’s kitchen shortly around 8 a.m. Monday. On two occasions, the snake was about to attack the women when the dog dashed from a corner and used itself as a shield. Marlone Fronteras, an employee of Nestle Philippines who owned the terrier, said Chief seized the venomous snake in the neck with its teeth and repeatedly slammed it on the floor until it died. The dog was bitten too by the cobra; it died a few minutes later after giving its master a farewell gaze, according to the dog owner’s friends Mare Sabelita and Derf Ian dela Rama.
An organization of pit bull terrier owners here, Royale Pit Bull Club-Ancient Fraternal Order of the Pit Bulls Inc., honored Chief and gave it the moniker “grandfather” of all pit bulls in the community. Marlone told the Cagayan de Oro journal, that he, his family and members of the pit bull owners’ group gave the dog a “hero’s burial” the same day. “We just waited for the children to arrive from school because they loved Chief so much,” said Marlone. Sabelita said Fronteras’s wife Maria Victoria was teary eyed when she narrated the dog’s “heroism” to friends. “The snake was in front of us., maneuvering a deadly attack,” Sabelita quoted Maria Victoria as saying. “I screamed out loud to ask for help.” Hearing this, the four-year old pit bull terrier dashed from its sleeping area to fight off the deadly snake, said Sabelita quoting Maria Victoria. The cobra fought back and bit Chief at the lower left portion of the jaw. The dog then repeatedly slammed the cobra after it succeeded in immobilizing the snake with its sharp teeth, she said. Dela Rama said la Victoria was watching television when she panicked and alerted her granddaughter. The old lady said the cobra was about to attack her and the dog came to her rescue. Maria Victoria said she saw the cobra expand its neck as soon as she turned the lights on. She said the cobra looked like it was spitting as its inched closer, about a meter away, toward her. De la Rama said the terrier, “out of nowhere,” jumped on the cobra , bit it the neck, and then shook it till it died. Moments later, the dog slouched flat and fainted, spreading its arms and feet on the floor, after killing the killer snake. De la Rama said the dog went wobbly and lost control of its organs some 30 minutes after being bitten by the cobra; it started to urinate and defecate uncontrollably as it grasped for air and panted heavily.
The Fronterases sought the help of veterinarian but they were reportedly told that it was too late because the snake bite was near the dog’s brain and the venom had already spread. Sabilita said Marlone rushed home when his wife called him up to tell him of what had happened and the dog’s master was stunned. The Fronteras children, who treated Chief like a member of the family and who called the dog “Kuya Chief,” were deeply affected, according to Sabelita.
The last thing Chief did was waggle its tail and gaze at Marlone who had just come from work, said Sabelita. “Chief gave his two deep breaths and died. (It) was fighting and saving (its) last ounces of breath to see a glimpse of (its) master for the last two seconds of (its) life,” added dela Rama. Sabelita said he hoped people would change how they look at pit bull terriers, a breed strongly discouraged in many countries and banned because of their “cruel looks.” We never get the change to know them more,” said Sabelita.
A hero's death: Good night, sweet prince...
Comments
Sherwin
http://mefindhome.blogspot.com
Good boy Chief, Good Boy. R.I.P.
Thank you for commenting. Snakes are not necessarily bad animals. It was unfortunate that Chief met up with the snake, and the snake unfortunately found its way into the home of humans. As an animal lover, I do not fault the snake for doing what it naturally does, that is to look for food or shelter and defend itself when confronted. Snakes do good things like control the rodent population. I wish the incident never happened.
They get a bad rap due to the media always wanting to report on dog attacks that are pit bull related. Of course, the media could care less if a GSD, Rottie, or Dobermans do the same thing. It is all about stigmatizing the pit bulls.
RIP Chief.