A feisty, golden-coloured chihuahua named Honey is being hailed as a hero after helping save eight-year-old Jenna’s life when she was being attacked by a pit bull last week.
It’s not hard to see why Honey did what she did.
The week following the attack, as a flock of reporters walk up the driveway of Anne Marie and Paul Desrochers’ home, four-year-old Honey barks to let her owners know that people are on the property. She keeps her distance and sticks close to her family.
Soon the barking stops.
She cautiously approaches each person, sniffing their ankles when they’re not looking.
She frequently returns back to the Desrochers and their granddaughter, Jenna, after investigating each visitor as if to tell them that everyone has her stamp of approval.
Then Honey sees the neighbour’s dog, Chevy, saunter onto the property. Honey growls and barks, but never bites nor nips at Chevy. Chevy, an older dog, takes a few steps backwards staring innocently at Honey. Honey continues to bark. Chevy gets the point, turns around, and slowly goes home.
Unfortunately, the situation wasn’t quite the same with a different neighbourhood dog during spring break.
Jenna was playing in her grandparents’ evergreen-treed backyard in Rosedale when the neighbour’s pit bull escaped its enclosure and attacked her. The dog had Jenna by the head.
Honey, being the protective little dog that she is, began growling and barking at the pit bull. The pit bull released Jenna and turned its attention towards Honey. Fortunately, the pit bull’s owner was soon able to grab and leash her dog before it could do much further damage.
Jenna was rushed to the hospital where she received hundreds of stitches to her head and face.
The pit bull was put down.
A week later, Jenna, a Grade 3 Strathcona elementary student, has not yet returned to school and will be recovering at home for a while.
On Tuesday afternoon, she is sitting inside her grandparent’s house on a black leather couch beside her grandmother. Jenna is shy and quiet as a handful of media ask her questions.
Honey bounces around at Jenna’s feet, turning in circles a few times before jumping up onto the couch and onto Jenna’s lap.
“They’re best buddies,” says Anne Marie Desrochers, looking over at the two.
Still excited from all of the visitors, Honey’s eyes are wide and her ears are perked straight up. She turns herself around and wiggles her way underneath Jenna’s left arm, clearly looking for some attention. Jenna gently pats Honey’s soft head and scratches her behind the ears.
A few minutes pass and Honey’s breathing has slowed, her ears are relaxed, and eyes begin to close. Jenna looks down at Honey with a smile as she lovingly pulls her tiny hero in closer to her.
