A Heroic Dog Receives Honor

A dog who was shot to save his family received an honor from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department today.

A hero is what the red-nosed Pitbull Leon proved to be. When two armed men wearing ski-masks broke into a Gulfport home, Leon barked and alerted his owners that the men had invaded the house. They were able to chase the men out. During the chase, the invaders shot at the family. The only one injured was Leon, taking a bullet right in the head. Now that he has recovered, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has given the family an award to hang on the wall to honor Leon’s act of courage and sacrifice. Leon’s owner Theresa Lero said, “He’s still a little spooky. You know, when he hears a noise at night, he’s up and at ‘em. He’s growling and barking ferociously. There was a reason that dog was at that pound and a reason we went there and picked him up that day. We were going to need him.”

The family tells News 25 that after staying overnight in the ER, it was confirmed the bullet didn’t go through Leon’s brain. Harrison County deputies arrested the men involved in the incident. Both were charged with home invasion.