A pet pony named Billy is recuperating and will survive a pit bull attack in Sherman thanks to neighbor and a billy club-toting state trooper who beat the dogs off with his baton.
Billy was racing around a field near a stable on Route 39 Wednesday when two dogs escaped from a neighboring yard and attacked.
Letter carrier Anna Walsh witnessed the attack and called 911.
"It was like when you watch Wild Kingdom, when the lions bring down the water buffalo," she told the News Times.
Within minutes, State Trooper Rupert De Los Reyes arrived. With his service baton, he beat the dogs until they let go of the pony.
Billy, who belongs to the 9-year-old daughter of Michael and Jeannie Robbins, suffered severe face, eye and leg injuries and is being treated at an animal hospital in Patterson, N.Y.
Billy is going to survive, thanks to quick action of De Los Reyes, and the quick thinking of Walsh, the Robbins told the News Times.
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"She (Walsh) is the hero," Michael Robbins said. "We went to the post office this morning and hugged her. Without her, our horse would have been dead."
The dogs have been impounded while the incident is under investigation, the News Times reports. The dogs’ owner said he was raking when the dogs escaped and apologized for the attack.
The dog’s owner was issued a misdemeanor summons for nuisance dog and allowing dogs to roam.
