Three counts of misdemeanor culpable negligence was the charge against two Marion County residents Wednesday.  Authorities charged Randall and Nadine Charron of Belleview for failing to control their dangerous dogs after their three pets allegedly pursued and mauled a young boy, but the outcome and the charges could have been worse if not for the quick reaction of a neighbor.

    Weighing a mere 140 pounds, Darry Blitch does not outweigh his neighbors' pets by much, but when he found them attacking of an 11-year-old Saturday, he did not let that stop him.

    "After I got back in the yard, that's when I fell apart and I still get a little emotional about it," Blitch said.

    Blitch had just finished up some gardening and was getting ready to relax when he heard the dogs barking outside.  Then he heard a child's screams, so he went to the edge of his property to investigate.  Blitch said he found the boy on the other side of the wire fence at the northwest corner of his property with the three dogs on top of him.  He helped the boy up, told him not to let the dogs drag him down again, then grabbed a stick and ran to the boy's rescue.

    According to Blitch, the dogs went straight home after that, so he took the boy and called 9-1-1.  Authorities said the dogs inflicted severe injuries and the child probably would have died if not for the 65-year-old.  His family said he is a hero.

    "I've been proud of him all my life, but I thought that was amazing," Blitch's son Crickett said.

    Neighbors said they were surprised to learn of the attack, but there are a lot of dogs in the area.

    "When I come out my door and get chased by dogs, it definitely makes me very scared and nervous," Casey Owens said.

    Others said it is important to know who the dog is before you let your guard down.   

    "It depends on how you raise them," Ashley Valley said while holding her baby daughter Abigail.  "But if I don't know a dog, I don't want him around my daughter."

    Blitch said he is good friends with the dogs owners, and he's never had a problem with the dogs.  Blitch said he has no idea what happened on that day.

    "They've never been aggressive to me.  They've always been as nice as they could be."

    The Charrons also had to sign their dogs--a Boxer Mix, a Pit Mix and a Rottweiler--over to the County.

Biting Back

Ted Latiak

WCJB, TV20 News