Dog helps owner fend off two bandits in Wyndham Vale
A DOG adopted less than a week ago came to its owner’s rescue as she fended off two men trying to force their way into her home in Melbourne’s west.
A DOG adopted less than a week ago came to its owner’s rescue as she fended off two men trying to force their way into her home in Melbourne’s west.
Shocked mother Trish Borg was struggling to fend off one man trying to push her inside the front door as the other ran into the Wyndham Vale home.
But the bandits, who posed as solar panel installers, were forced into retreat when French mastiff Rhianna rushed to her owner’s aid.
The 13-month-old adoptee, taken in just six days earlier, rose up against the man inside, snapping towards his neck while barking aggressively.
He ran out and his accomplice followed with Rhianna on their tail.
Ms Borg had no doubt the animal’s actions saved her from serious harm.
“If she hadn’t have been here I don’t know what would have happened,’’ she said.
“She was my hero and she truly saved my life.
“We rescued her but she rescued me.
“Some things are meant to be.”
Ms Borg answered the front door of her Brougham Ave home at about 12.30pm yesterday when the men, wearing business attire and carrying clipboards, claimed they were from the State Government and needed to measure her roof for compulsory panels.
Dubious, she asked them to leave the paperwork for when her husband got back from work and the ordeal began.
Ms Borg was pushed against the security door, usually locked, as one man tried to push her in.
Screaming, she tried to fend him off, laying a punch in desperation to no avail.
“It was absolutely terrifying,’’ she said.
“I was thinking I’m dead meat.
“The next thing I’m hearing this ferocious bark.
“I’ve never heard the dog bark — I’ve even sent emails to see if there may be something medically wrong.
“One guy bolted past me and she was sort of on her hind legs with her front paws extended and curled trying to grab him by the shoulders with her mouth open biting for the neck.
“She wanted to bring him down — it was almost like a scene on TV of the wild animals bringing down the antelope.
“When the other guy saw what was going on he turned around and bolted and she pursued him.”
Rhianna returned after several minutes, jumping up to give her owner a sniff in the first sign of real affection since being adopted.
Mr Borg said the hero pooch had always been her first pick on the pet rescue website but was almost adopted by another person but they didn’t follow through.
“You think when you are giving an animal another chance at life and want to give them a nice home and them be part of your family that you are doing them the huge favour,’’ she said.
“Words can’t describe how much I love that dog now.
“It just goes to show when a dog speaks to you then that’s the dog for you — listen to your heart.”
Rhianna’s efforts have rapidly spread after Ms Borg passed on a warning about the bandits to fellow residents via a community safety Facebook page.
Police were investigating.
Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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