A young boy, aged 12, is receiving praise and recognition as a hero for protecting his siblings from a vicious dog attack, despite sustaining injuries himself in the process.
Sixth-grader Deacon Ashmore was out on a stroll in their Detroit neighborhood with his two sisters and brother when two violent canines barged up to them out of nowhere.
Without hesitation, Deacon stepped in front of his siblings to protect them from the approaching dogs.
The two dogs lunged at Deacon’s brother, 5, his two sisters, 9, and 7, as well as other kids who were playing outside at the time.
Deacon stepped in front of them, allowing his siblings and other children to escape, but as a result, he was attacked by the dogs.
His mother Elisabeth Ashmore said that Deacon “jumped in front of all the other kids and made sure they could run home really fast before the dogs got them,” as reported by MSN News.
Deacon was able to fend off one of the dogs, which had clamped its jaws around his leg, by hitting it until it let go.
However, his leg was badly injured, with a visible bone and a lot of blood, but thankfully there were no broken bones.
His mother stated that the biggest concern was whether there was any ligament or tendon damage.
His father added that if the injury had been just a couple of centimeters in a different direction, it could have been much more serious.
Deacon was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he received tetanus and rabies injections and underwent surgery to treat the wounds from the dog bite.
He was kept overnight in the hospital and was released the next day. He was expected to use crutches for a few weeks.
A GoFundMe campaign was started to help the family pay for Deacon’s medical bills, and more than $25,000 was raised.
This was the attack that happened in May.
Deacon’s father also mentioned that his son’s main concern was whether his siblings made it back home safely, showing his selflessness and bravery during the attack.
The incident highlights the importance of responsible dog ownership, and the need for action to be taken against those who allow their dogs to roam loose and potentially harm others.
