(Raw audio) Father fights off pit bull attack


HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. – A Clackamas County Sheriff Deputy had to fatally shot an attacking pit bull in Happy Valley Wednesday afternoon.

Steven Hehr, 31, was inside a house when he heard his daughter screaming for help. Jayda Kempas, 7, was in the backyard playing on a tire swing when a 90-pound pit bull attacked her.

Hehr ran outside and pried the dog’s mouth open to release Jayda. A family friend picked the girl up, rushed her inside the house, wrapped her injured leg in a shirt and called 9-1-1.

The dog focused its attack on Hehr, biting him in the thigh and attempting to bite him in the torso and chest. Hehr was able to control the dog in a headlock and wrestle the animal to the ground and lay on top of the dog.

The dog continued to try to bite Hehr, so a second family friend grabbed an aluminum baseball bat and began beating on the dog’s legs and back. The dog still continued to attack as that man became exhausted. The dog’s caretaker then picked up the bat and began beating the dog.

The dog would not relent.

Finally, a Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on the scene and shot the dog dead.

Jayda suffered severe cuts to her lower right calf and puncture wounds on her upper left thigh area. American Medical Response provided medical attention to both the father and daughter and both were transported to Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital for medical treatment.

Thursday Hehr was with his daughter at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, in Portland. Jayda was expected to have surgery Thursday to mend damage to her leg received during this dog attack.

Hehr was treated for his injuries and has one arm in a sling. He dislocated a shoulder while wrestling with the dog and suffered bites on his hands, chest, legs and arms.

The deceased animal has been retained for forensic examination to confirm the animal has been properly vaccinated and no threat of rabies is present.