Hero Cat Saves Boy From Dog Attack; Escapes With Only a Few Stitches (VIDEO)
A family cat in Bakersfield, California is now being hailed as a hero after it aggressively interrupted a vicious attack on the son of its owners by a dog and chased it away until help arrived.
Video of the incredible rescue according to ABC 23, shows 4-year-old Jeremy, who has mild autism, playing on his bicycle until the neighbor's 8-month-old Labrador/chow mix sneaks up behind him and begins to bite his leg.
Almost as fast as the attack began, however, the family cat named Tara is shown plowing into the dog and chasing it away.
According to young Jeremy: "Tara is my hero."
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Jeremy's mother, Erika Triantafilo, who was watering a tree nearby, said she didn't know something was wrong until she heard her son's screams.
"I didn't really even realize what had happened until after when my husband showed me the surveillance video," she said.
Thanks to the cat Tara's bravery, however, Jeremy is doing well and only needed a few stitches. Roger Triantafilo, Jeremy's father, also remains in awe of Tara, who has been in their family since 2008.
"I've never seen a cat do that," he said. "Especially ours. It just shows how much she really has a family-oriented mind set."
The dog is currently under voluntary observation at Bakersfield Animal Care Center. Sgt. Joe Grubs of the Bakersfield Police, however, said the dog will be euthanized after being quarantined for 10 days.
Meanwhile, however, as word of Tara's bravery spread online, her actions have evoked nothing but praise.
"Give that cat a tuna! She totally plowed that dog and chased it off," wrote Lee Forest on YouTube.
"That cat needs to be Jay-z's new body guard," wrote Niya Brock.
