HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. -- A man rescued his daughter from an attack by a 90-pound pit bull that continued to attack, biting the man in several places Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Steven M. Hehr, 31, of Gladstone, and his daughter, Jayda Kempas, 7, were recovering Thursday as she waited to go into surgery for her injuries after the vicious attack that left them both injured and the dog dead, Strovink said.

Hehr was inside a home on Southeast 172nd Street in Happy Valley when he heard Jayda's screams outside, Detective Jim Strovink said.

The staff sergeant with the Oregon National Guard immediately ran outside to find the 90-pound dog with its jaws latched onto his daughter's leg as it attempted to pull her off the tire swing on which she'd been playing, Strovink said.

Hehr ran to Jayda's aid and used his hands to pry the dog's mouth open and turn its attention to him, allowing the girl to run to safety, Strovink said.

"I thought my fingers were gone. It was life or death to me, because my daughter is so small and the dog was so big. If he had got my daughter off the swing, it would have been over. If I wouldn't have been out there it would have been over," Hehr said.

Witnesses said the dog then began to attack Hehr, biting him on the thigh and attempting to attack his torso as he tried to wrestle it to the ground, Strovink said.

Three other men were also there and helped Hehr with the rescue effort: Ian Tovar, 27, of Clackamas; William Bahler, 47, of Happy Valley; and Alan Clinansmith, 44.

Tovar grabbed Jayda and carried her inside the home, wrapped her leg in his T-shirt and called 911, Strovink said.






While the girl was being taken to safety, the dog tore apart Hehr's pants while biting him on the leg and then the chest before he managed to get the dog in a headlock and use his body to pin the animal to the ground, Strovink said.

The dog continued to try to attack Hehr and fought to free itself as he tried to hold it on the ground, causing Hehr to yell for someone to kill the dog, Strovink said.

Bahler grabbed an aluminum baseball bat and began to beat the dog on its legs and back as hard as he could with no effect, Strovink said.

Then Clinansmith took the bat and continued to hit the dog until Clackamas County sheriff's Deputy Greg Martin arrived, Strovink said.

As the dog continued to resist being restrained and tried to attack, Martin realized he had no other choice and shot the dog, eliminating the threat, Strovink said.

"Had it not been for the father being present and pulling the dog from the child, that girl most probably would not have survived the attack," Martin said.

American Medical Response arrived and provided medical attention to the father and daughter, and both were taken to Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital for treatment.



Jayda suffered severe lacerations to her lower right calf and puncture wounds on her upper left thigh area. She was later transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where she was scheduled to have surgery Thursday to repair the damage, Strovink said.

"Jayda is a real trooper, is expected to recover and is presently in good spirits," said Hehr, who served two tours of duty, one in Iraq and another in Afghanistan.

Hehr had his arm in a sling having dislocated his shoulder in the fight and also suffered bite wounds to his hands, chest, legs and arms, Strovink said.

The dog's body was kept for forensic examination to confirm that it was properly vaccinated and no threat of rabies is present.

The dog's owner was identified as Rick Harrison, 37, of Gresham.

Deputies said they don't expect criminal charges to be filed in this attack but wouldn't rule out civil action

wow that man and his neighbors, or atleast passerby's are all hero's

In many states to own a Pit, Rott, or German Shepard you must have liability insurance for it. That's why most insurance companies inquire about owning a dog. That doesn't mean people renting will follow suit or even the homeowners will do so. Whats a little white lie? Nothing until someone gets bit or attacked.

whooooowieeeee THAT is a million dollar lawsuit



and THAT was the appropriate outcome

some dogs can be trained to attack but all the rest of the time they are great dogs. Any dog that attacks without provocation is not redeemable and has to go down

just my opinion as a dog lover

I've always wondered if it's the " dog "...or...the " owner "...that's causing this breed to go haywire...I take my dogs to a dogpark around here...and...although my Lab is no saint...his fights have been over the fact that he's the Alpha male at this park...so...he's defending his so called territory...Pit's on the other hand are randomly attacking...and...I've witnessed it a quite a few occasions...it's quite scary...once the get hold...they just hold on...and...do you know the easiest and fastest way to stop a fight ?...water...squirt water on them and they stop right away...

My friend you better check state laws. In florida a dog can bite as many times as long the owner pays the fine. A dog is considered private property of the owner.

that's something already looked into...we've had cases at the park...where someone's dog got beat up and they went to court...the judges ruling are this...when you go to a dogpark...it's the nature of the beast...meaning...if the people want to settle the payment of the bills on there own...great...otherwise...in Illinois...if you go to a dogpark...in mosty cases...there will be a fight...so...watch your dog !!...as far as biting someone...around here theres a so called three bite rule...after the third time...they put the dog down...

Florida, atleast Lee County dosnt. You have to get a judges order to put a dog down no matter how many times it bites. Private Property of the owner..

where I live it's legal to shoot strays on your property. If the dog is dangerous it's considered a community service

Theres a few aroud here that need shot. But my luck I would get bit plus thrown in jail for shooting the dog.

we have a bit of a problem with strays. They pack up and then they are dangerous.

I know a couple areas here that that's occurring. Running in packs. It wont change until someone gets killed. Might have happened already and they just buried the bones scattered all over.

Some of the sweetest dogs I've ever been around were pit bulls. I'm not just saying that because I'm a proud owner, but I'm speaking the truth. It always breaks my heart to hear these kind of stories, because I know that at some time the dog had been abused or neglected. That is the only way a dog will lash out in anger. I think people need to be more careful about who should be allowed to have certain breeds. Maybe background check anyone who wants a pit bull, rottie, bull mastiff, etc...

Just a thought.

I have no problem with people owning them. But hey for me to own one I have to pay high homeowners premiums, if they will even insure it if I owed one.

I once had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that was a problem dog. He had the best of worlds raised from a puppy. But he had "fear-aggression". Any thing he was scared of he tried to kill

and he was scared of EVERYTHING. With the family he was a lapdog. but with anyone else he was a danger. We never had the heart to put him down (he died of old age) but if he ever got out and mauled someone like that I would expect to be completely responsible and liable.

And I would expect the same from anyone else

I hear ya. They really are awesome dogs. If you want one, just stretch the truth and tell your insurance rep that it's a mutt/mix. You're not really sure about the breed.

I had to tell that to my last landlord.

I worked in a shelter that had the county animalcontrol contract. The pitbulls were heartbreaking. We had dogs convescated from fighting kennels, covered in scars & some were so sweet wanting attention from us, but we also saw them react differently to other people. We would pet & suggle them, but NEVER TURN OUR BACKS or enter thier kennels if we were alone. They were always in locked kennels we could not take chances with them.

Absolutely. If my dog ever hurt another person or animal, I would take full responsibility. It's never the dogs fault, because they are truly innocent and run on pure instinct.

I am from Maryland, & Chesapeakes are not even very common there. They are unusal dogs, typically rather aloof & tend to be one person dogs. They are amazingly strong! I have known a few I would not trust, & one that was a sweetheart, always had a ball in his mouth.

No disrespect intended plz. Are you finacialy secure enough to pay the bills if something did happened. Im not questioning your dog but accidents do happen..