Pit Bull Shot In The Head Trying To Protect Owner, But Miraculously Survives

'Kilo' Didn't Take Too Kindly To Gunman Pushing Into Staten Island Home

April 4, 2012 11:01 PM

Kilo the pit bull was shot in the head defending his owner, but the bullet ricocheted off the dog’s skull and exited its neck, preventing serious injury. (Photo: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There’s a dog that took a bullet, possibly saving his owner’s life. And surprisingly, the 12-year-old pit bull shot in the head survived.

The pit bull named “Kilo” was off to the vet Wednesday for a check-up, after taking a bullet for his owner, Justin Becker.

“He’s a hero. He saved my life. He went to protect me and he did his job,” Becker told CBS 2′s John Slattery.

Even Dr. Greg Panarello, the veterinarian who treated the dog, was impressed.

“Incredibly lucky. Incredibly lucky,” Panarello said.

It happened Saturday evening in Becker’s apartment house in the Graniteville section of Staten Island. A gunman, posing as a FedEx deliveryman, wearing a uniform, rang the bell and said he had a package, but then pushed his way into the apartment.

“He barged in. My first reaction after seeing the gun is push him out, so I pushed him to the door. Like I said, he fell like wedged right by the door. I slammed him inside the door and he was stuck and tried to get out now because he was getting crushed,” Becker said.

His girlfriend has been holding the dog and let go.

“I was shocked and I was terrified,” Nicole Percoco said.

The dog went after the gunman.

"Kilo," the hero pit bull from Staten Island, saved its owner's life and took a bullet to the head for its troubles. (Photo: CBS 2)

“Now Kilo came out to protect me. Grrr, he tried to come through the door at the guy, his head was out. Grrr, then I heard the guy, three gunshots,” Becker said.

One of the shots hit the dog in the head.

“It did ricochet off the skull and went straight down and exited at the neck,” Dr. Panarello said.

The vet staff put a superhero insignia on this bandage. Kilo was up and around Wednesday, going for walks just three days after being shot.

“I think it’s amazing. He saved my life,” Becker said.

You’ve heard of a cat with nine lives. Kilo seems well on his way.

Please add your thoughts in the comments section below …

Alvin

I live in Kansas, we have gun laws which allow us to protect ourselves and our dogs.

Stan

Why does this not surprise me.

PowerPC

Although I have never owned a Pit Bull, a friend of mine owned one before his wife took the dog after they got divorced. That Pit Bull was really a great big baby! As big as he was the dog loved to climb up in someone’s lap and curl up for a good rubbing.

On the other hand, My Aunt was attacked by her neighbors Pit Bull. The dog really damaged her thigh and she required numerous stitches in her leg. The dog was actually muzzled before the attack and for some reason the neighbor removed the muzzle while she and the dog were entering their portion of the duplex. That is all it took and the dog was on the attack. Pit Bulls are what their owners make of them.
Boatner

God bless you, your girlfriend, and Kilo!

Sex is good in wedlock

Mary the girl dude!

blunt trauma

“The veterinary people put a superhero insignia on this bandage.”

The veterinary people……LOL
HoseA

pit bulls fight off everything…
Babe

Thank God for some intelligent replies here!
If not for Lilo, that guy would have been dead.
I hope he took a few chunks out of that low life thief!
Michael P

I thought that guns were illegal in New York
Gary

I am 48 years old and have owned probably 10 dogs in my life. I now have a pit bull and she is the most loving, loyal dog I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Why to go Kilo!

Dj

Gary, I too have a female pitbull (rescue from Baltimore) and found her to be the best dog I’ve owned in my 38 years. I am sold on females of this breed from here on. Awesome dogs.
Al Schork

Had them all my life (62 yrs), have 3 now, Best and most loyal canines in the world. Some owners are just poor trash or stupid, or both.

http://kevinburger.net/ kburger

“…carrying a pistol with a clip…”

That’s a strange way to carry a pistol. Convoluted wording. Maybe “carrying an automatic pistol that had a magazine,” perhaps? But that would be redundant. Show me an automatic pistol that doesn’t have a magazine.

Jahnke

Most journalists are liberals … and know absolutely nothing about guns (or liberty, courage, morals, justice …).
CB

A pistol with a clip, is as opposed to a revolver, which does not. But I agree it’s awkward wording. I doubt it’s an automatic (aka a Uzi machine gun) but a semi-automatic.

Coolit10

Probably a Tech- 9. gangsta favorite.coward favorite.Magazine hangs out about 4 inches. About the same as these cowards.Breed Pits.Not these POS.

Billy J

One the best family dogs anyone could ever own. They get a really bad rep. They are super great with kids and other small pets.
Love NYC

Once they catch the perp, his criminal defense lawyer is going to use the excuse that he was trying to retreat and was pushed and crushed in the door by the owner and that he shot the dog in self-defense. Sadly, a jury will buy some lawyer’s spin on it. If the owner can’t remember the exact color of his clothing or car, forget it. Speedy recovery to Kilo.

steve of scrabblecheat.com

Wasn;t there an episode of Married with Children like this.
The robber sued Al Bundy for beating him up and won $100,000

would be nice to see the dog attack the jurors.

Rick O’Shea

i had a female Pit and she slept at my feet on the bed. When someone came to the yard gate she would put herself between me and the gate.She lived a long and happy life.
E.T.

the dog is a racist.

Rip Torn

I wonder if the robber looks like a son Obama would have had.

SavageMagoo

LMAO!!!
Rick O’Shea

Looks like, he probably was?
Well Armed Lamb

Maybe it was Obama’s uncle I here he is out of jail now
marlene klim

Amazing how 85% of all killers look like they could be Bammy’s son. Or is that Soetoro’s son?

sherry

lovin the pibull breed, he is my hero too!!!!!

huufarted

Guh Boyyyyyyyyy Kilo Guhhhhhhh Boyyyyyyyyyyyyy !!!

lwlfnm

He will sue the dog and his owner for racially motivated assault
roninmaximus

Very fortunate the gentleman’s dog was there and able to provide for his defense – and did so successfully. It is sad, though that in New York someone can be accosted in such a way by a piece of filth like that…begs the question of what might have happened if said resident possibly got the assailant’s weapon away from him, successfully defend himself (shoot and possibly kill) with it and be arrested for doing so. That’s the insanity of the laws there.
max54

Enough of the race crap! Kudos to the pit bull. They are awsome dogs who are extremely inteligent, full of tons of energy, outstanding personalities and character and although they do need a strong alpha to keep them in order, they will go down for their masters. I hate the idiots that mess with them to make them mean. In the right household they are awsome family dogs that will be playful an fun and I say it again, they will sacrifice it all for that family.
mark oconnell

Best dogs ever – hands down. So sad that far too many thugs and rednecks who fight dogs agree.

mark oconnell

Wouldn’t give my pit up for the world. I’ve passed up on many nice apartments and rentals because they wouldn’t allow “that breed” thanks to all of the ghetto trash that have so mistreated these animals.

Their natural disposition can’t be beat – unless their human literally beats them, that is. I let my dog play with my one year old nephew, he plays great with my cat, plays great with the neighbor’s shitzu, and listens to every utterance I make.
The fact that pits get a bad rep really ticks me off.

Peter

He was probably there to rape the guys
girlfriend…

tremayfreon caudwell

more likely, he was there to rape the guy. or the dog.

Neonentity

Wow. Better get back on the meds, friend.
FWIW, we have a pit mix. Incredibly intelligent, loyal, and with a great sense of fun.
Kilo is a true hero. I hope he has many more years ahead of him.

juan one

Not trying to rain on the party of the hero dog but, look at the facts.
1. Perp dressed like s Fedex driver and acted like he was delivering a package.
2. He was armed with a loaded weapon.
3. Owner own a pit named is Kilo.(short for kilogram)
Perp used a good disguise and was prepared for violence. He went to the apt when both the male and female were present. Conclusion is he probably was after drugs, money, or both.

UgotJUANupyouraz

Actually Kilo can also be short for Kilobyte, owner could be in the IT field. Jackhole!!

Protestant Man

Kilo is my hero too! The dog had no fear against a man holding a gun, who ultimately shot him. I’m very impressed.
mittra

obama’s grown man son, I’m sure!

dawgmama

Don’t quit your day job,mittra, cause you’re not going to make it as a comedian or political hack. I’ll just assume that you are a little stunted, and that you wish Kilo a fast recovery! Go, Kilo!!!

robertbayer

Mittra .. Good one HA!
mike ball

No Mittra was right. Your the stunted one.

kentuckian

Time for some idiot to complain about pit bulls being dangerous.

Coolit10

Labrador retrievers bite more people than any other breed. Blame the owners. No dog is born to be mean. Think about genetics/history of all breeds.Mean dogs ended up in the soup.

Feral Apes

should we be on the lookout for someone that looks like what Obama’s son would look like? Or would that only pertain to fed ex drivers wearing hoodies?
Snod

He was wearing a hoodie!

Crsnj

No but he thought the tenant had skittles! Lol

Andrew Kent

Too bad they couldn’t get the gun away from the perp and pump a few shots into him while the dog was ripping his throat out. Then they all would have been heroes, and this guy wouldn’t still be on the loose with his gun and a FedEx uniform. Of course, with all the guns in Staten Island, it’s only a matter of time until he gets his comeuppance.

Mike Johnson

No, they would have labeled Becker a racist and the throngs would have come out to protect the perp.

SavageMagoo

Tru that! what a backwards world we live in. The only thing that makes me smile anymore is scratchin the head of my 8 year old brindle pit and knowing that her unconditional love is behind those big brown eyes. Pits are the absolute best dogs no matter what Michael Savage says.

~

I have never heard Michael Savage make a negative comment about Pit Bulls!

Michael Savage loves ALL animals and he certainly loves dogs! Course, he might debate on which is his favourite.

The sad thing is all the Trash who own and abuse their Pits. I know karma is not mocked and not fooled, but I would certainly like to help her along.

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Pit Bull Shot In The Head Trying To Protect Owner, But Miraculously Survives

'Kilo' Didn't Take Too Kindly To Gunman Pushing Into Staten Island Home

April 4, 2012 11:01 PM

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