story/photo by Mark Brady PGFD PIO

During the first hour of their shift on Fri., July 9, 2010 firefighter/medics from the Landover Hills Fire/EMS Station were summoned to render aid for uncontrollable bleeding on the leg of a victim of a pit bull attack.

A 911 call was received at about 7:30 a.m. reporting a pit bull attack in the 5700 block of 66th Ave. in Riverdale. As per protocol, animal control officials and county police were dispatched to the scene. The police arrived first and located the victim, which was suffering from several bite wounds to his front and rear paws. Peluche, a three-year-old cocker spaniel, had been attacked by a pit bull and was bleeding from the bite wounds.

With an extended ETA for animal control officers, the police officer requested the firefighter/medics to come into the scene to tend to the wounds and attempt to stop the profuse bleeding.

The crew of Fire Lieutenant Beardmore and Firefighter/Medics Yarish, Miller and Francis arrived and applied basic first aid measures to control the bleeding and dress the wounds. Veterinary surgery was later required to repair the wounds, and Peluche's owner stated that her pet was doing fine and recuperating from her ordeal.

She also conveyed her sincerest thanks to the public safety personnel who responded and tended to her injured pet. Providing first-aid to an injured animal is not common, yet it is another service Prince George's County Firefighters and Paramedics are placed in a position to provide on an as-needed basis. Personnel understand the importance of pets to families and are grateful to assist when and where possible while keeping their safety and that of others as their priority.