AR-News: (CA - US) Dog who saved girl killed by car

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Dog who saved girl killed by car

Peggy Hager
Los Angeles Daily News
May. 6, 2004 10:21 AM

LITTLEROCK, Calif. - A dog rescued from the animal shelter will be honored -- 
posthumously -- for heroism: biting a man who abducted her 11-year-old owner, 
allowing the girl to escape from the kidnapper's car.

In a ceremony today at Staples Center, the Society for the Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals-Los Angeles will present a plaque to the family of the harrier 
named Shiloh.

Sadly, Shiloh got out of her yard and was hit by a car two weeks before she 
was to receive her Hero Dog award.

"She was a good dog. She played a lot, she slept in my room, she ate my 
dinner," said Sarah Irman, now 12.

Sarah and her family will be driven in a limousine to the society's awards 
ceremony. Sarah gets to hang the plaque on her bedroom wall.

"It's going to be a very hard, emotional day for her," said her mother, 
Rebecca Irman.

Shiloh was Sarah's dog for nearly six years, chosen after three trips to the 
Lancaster animal shelter in search of a companion.

"It was a family dog, but really it bonded with her," said her mom. "She took 
it everywhere with her."

Sarah had been in-line skating, accompanied by Shiloh, near her home last 
June when a man got out of a parked car and grabbed her. The man shoved Sarah 
into his car, described as a black, four-door sedan, and the dog got in with her.

The kidnapper drove to Everett Martin Park about five miles away. When the 
man tried to take her out of the car, Sarah struggled.

During the struggle, Shiloh bit the kidnapper twice, allowing Sarah to 
escape.

As the kidnapper chased her, shouting in Spanish, Sarah ran to the park 
restroom and locked the door. After hiding for a while, she opened the door and 
looked out -- Shiloh was outside. Sarah let the dog in and stayed hidden until 
she was sure the kidnapper was gone.

She headed for home and made it about a mile before collapsing from 
exhaustion. An aunt out looking for her spotted her lying beside a road and took her 
home, then called 911.

The honor for Shiloh has some consternation for Sarah's mother, since the 
kidnapper has never been caught.

Rebecca Irman said authorities believe the man may have come up from the Los 
Angeles area and returned there. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 
composite image of the kidnapper was run in newspapers with no results.

"We're hoping the guy saw it and said, I'm not going out there again," said 
Rebecca. "We're hoping God sends her another guardian angel."

Shiloh was killed April 20, about a month after the family received word 
about the award. Sarah's brother opened the front-yard gate to retrieve the mail 
and Shiloh and a basset hound named Shadow ran out toward the dogs that live 
across the street.

A car hit both. Shiloh died on the way to the veterinarian's office and 
Shadow died a week later.

Unfortunately for the family, they can find no photos of Shiloh, although 
Sarah believes there is one of her and Shiloh together somewhere. The family 
hopes to get another dog eventually after Sarah recovers from the loss of Shiloh. 
They are hoping to find a beagle and are planning on as many trips to the 
pound as it takes to find the right companion. 








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