Woman sacrifices herself in dog attack to save best friend’s baby
Felicia Hambrick was babysitting for her best friend when her friend’s family dog attacked her.
Her best friend, Cassy, had gone out with her husband for an anniversary trip, leaving Hambrick with their three kids, aged 6, 3, and 8 months.
On Saturday, Hambrick was holding the baby to get her some apple juice, while the other two kids were watching TV. “The dog was in the bedroom, frantic, trying to get out,” Hambrick recalled.
Cassy’s mother had stepped outside, but the dog managed to get out of the bedroom and went right for Hambrick, knocking her over. Hambrick shielded the baby as she fell to keep her from hitting her head and then, as the pit bull, Roscoe, began to bite and claw at her, kept her body between Roscoe and the child.
“I knew he didn’t want her,” she said. “He was coming after me.”
Cassy’s mother arrived and began to beat Roscoe back with a broom. The dog also bit Cassy’s mother on the arms before, finally, she was able to get him outside, and firefighters arrived to get Hambrick to medical treatment.
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As for Cassy, she feels responsible for the attack on her best friend.
“There’s nothing that Felicia can say or anybody can do that’s going to make me feel not guilty,” Cassy said. “If I was home, this wouldn’t have happened. She’s my best friend. Because of me, her life is forever changed.”
Still, she knows her friend was hurt protecting her baby, and she is grateful for it.
“I’m so thankful for her,” Cassy said. “If the dog had gotten to my baby in any way, she could have died. I’m so thankful that Felicia took that and put it on herself instead of my baby.”
Roscoe has since been euthanized.
