Gallatin County EMS officials wouldn't comment on the situation or any of their policies

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WEBVTT OTHERS FROM HARM.>> THE DOG WAS DEFINITELYVICIOUS, I MEAN THE EMT KEPTBACKING UP, BACKING UP AND HEJUST KEPT COMING.DAN: MICHAEL MURPHY REMEMBERSHOW UNEASY HE FELT, LOOKING INTOTHE EYES OF A SNARLING PIT BULLTHAT BIT HIS GRANDSON.>> THE BITE WAS BIG ENOUGH WHEREYOU COULD PUT YOUR THUMB INTO ITALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BONE.DAN: MURPHY SAYS HIS 16-YEAR-OLDGRANDSON WAS MEETING SOMEFRIENDS AT A PARK JUST STEPSFROM HIS HOUSE.THE ESTIMATED 80-POUND DOG WASLOOSE, AND BOBBY NUNN WITHGALLATIN COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROLSAYS, IT WAS ANGRY.>> IF IT WAS A SMALL KID THEYWOULDN'T HAVE HAD A CHANCE CAUSEHE HAD SOME BIG TEETH AND SOMETOUGH JAWS.DAN: MURPHY SAYS GALLATIN COUNTYEMTS WERE TENDING TO THE16-YEAR-OLD.>> HE SAID, YEAH, TAKE ME TO THEHOSPITAL, LET'S JUST DO THIS ANDGET IT OVER WITH.NOT LIKE A NORMAL KID WOULD LIKEBE HYSTERICAL OR PASSING OUT ONYOU.DAN: THE ANIMAL STARTED HEADINGTHEIR WAY.>> THE EMS HAD A GUN AND HE WASBACKING UP, HE WASN'T GOING TOSHOOT IT, I TOLD HIM, I SAIDSHOOT IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TOGET US ALL.DAN: NUNN SAYS THE EMT SHOT THEDOG AND KILLED I>> I WAS JUST LUCKY THE GUY THATHAD THE PISTOL WAS THERE ANDSHOT THE DOG FOR ME.DAN: IT WAS A CLOSE CALL.MURPHY SAYS HE'S JUST GRATEFULTHAT IN A COUNTY, WHERERESOURCES ARE LIMITED AN EMT WASARMED, AND READY.IN GALLATIN COUNTY, DAN GRIFFIN,

Advertisement Gallatin Co. EMT praised for shooting, killing pit bull that attacked teen Gallatin County EMS officials wouldn't comment on the situation or any of their policies Share Shares Copy Link Copy

EMTs in Northern Kentucky are getting praised for quick-thinking after a snarling pit bull got loose in a Northern Kentucky neighborhood, attacked a teen and then charged at medics. Some people said they were worried the attack could have been so much worse. People who saw the dog said it was vicious and out-of-control. They praised the EMT's quick action for saving others from harm. "The dog was definitely vicious. I mean the EMT kept backing up, backing up and he just kept coming," Michael Murphy said. Murphy remembers how uneasy he felt looking into the eyes of a snarling pit bull that bit his grandson last month in Glencoe. "The bite was big enough where you could put your thumb into it all the way down to the bone," he said. Murphy said his 16-year-old grandson was meeting some friends at a park just steps from his house. The estimated 80-pound dog was loose and Bobby Nunn with Gallatin County Animal Control said it was angry. "If it was a small kid, they wouldn't have had a chance cause he had some big teeth and some tough jaws," he said. Murphy said Gallatin County EMTs were tending to the 16-year-old. "He said, 'Yeah, take me to the hospital, let's just do this and get it over with,' not like a normal kid (who) would like be hysterical or passing out on you," Murphy said. The animal started heading their way. "The EMS had a gun and he was backing up, he wasn't going to shoot it, I told him, I said 'shoot it' because it's going to get us all," Nunn said. He said the EMT shot the dog and killed it. "I was just lucky the guy that had the pistol was there and shot the dog for me," Nunn said. It was a close call. Murphy said he's just grateful that, in a county where resources are limited, an EMT was armed and ready. Gallatin County EMS officials wouldn't comment on the situation or any of their policies. Nunn said it appears the owner of the pit bull had been training the dog to fight. He said Gallatin County Animal Control cited the owner of the pit bull. Nunn said the owner is expected in court next month.