Preparedness
Arizona Mom Survives Vicious Pit Bull Attack Thanks to Quick-Thinking Daughter
In a shocking turn of events, Enza Piazza, a woman from Arizona, recounts a traumatic incident during which she was severely attacked by a pit bull she had saved from homelessness and nursed back to health over a period of four years.
Piazza opened her home to Baby Girl, the pit bull, in 2020. However, she never anticipated the life-threatening nightmare that would soon unfold.
“I had a collapsed lung, I had already lost two pints of blood,” Piazza grimly recalled of the incident, which occurred late last year without any apparent provocation on her part.
The dog’s sudden switch to aggression left Piazza fearing for her life. “She rag-dolled me back and forth,” she described. “I couldn’t gasp for air, and that very moment, I had no idea I had a collapsed lung, I had already lost two pints of blood.”
Weighing roughly 90 pounds, the pit bull was a formidable adversary.
“She was literally on top of me, and going for my arms, and just taking flesh, back and forth,” Piazza continued.
In the heat of the moment, Piazza called out to her daughter Nina, instructing her to retrieve a firearm.
“My mom reminded me of the gun that we had and she said, ‘Go get it,’ and I said, ‘Are you sure?’ because I didn’t want to do that,” Nina shared.
Nina took her mother’s advice and shot at the dog, not once, but thrice.
“She started turning around, and my mom said, ‘Do it one more time’ so I did it one more time and she was still moving so I did it another time, and that’s when she laid down,” Nina explained.
Since the incident, Piazza has faced criticism for the manner in which the dog was put down. However, she firmly maintains that she was left with no other options. “There was no controlling the situation at all, and I would’ve never hurt her ever,” she insists. “I rescued her; I would’ve never hurt her.”
In the aftermath, Piazza has required three surgeries and continuous therapy. She also experiences nightmares and flashbacks caused by the encounter.
The incident has reignited debates about pit bull ownership and legislation. In the face of numerous incidents involving pit bulls attacking humans, some fatally, government officials have proposed banning the breed. Conversely, defenders argue that the owners should bear responsibility for their pet’s actions, rather than the entire breed being punished.
Earlier this year, a man was fatally mauled by his own pit bulls at his home in Compton, prompting police to euthanize the 13 dogs on the property.
For those interested, Piazza’s full interview can be viewed on KVOA’s YouTube channel.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Linda
June 15, 2024 at 12:12 pm
PIT BULLS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE EARTH! The instinct to kill is inside them. Every person should learn how to use a firearm AND USE IT TO KILL AN ANIMAL THAT ATTACKS. ..PERIOD.
Karen
June 15, 2024 at 5:18 pm
You think a pit bull is bad? There are far bigger, stronger, with more bite force, around. Check out the Ovchark (Caucasian Shepherd), the Kangal, the Cane Corso, the Mastiff, the Rottie, the Wolf Hybrid, the Dogo Argentino and a few more. Any one of these dogs would eat a pit bull for lunch. The Ovchark can take on anything and will dispatch it in short order. Same with a Kangal. I think one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen in my life is an Ovchark fighting.
What’s truly unfortunate in this story is this dog was a rescue. I think rescuing any dog is a big risk, but a pit bull especially as you don’t know how it was raised or trained. It’s a very sad situation and one can tell that this lady and her daughter were very torn over having to shoot this dog. They were in a kill-or-be-killed situation. I don’t care how much I love my dog, if it attacked me, another family member, a person or their dog, I would have done the same thing. What strikes me as odd in this instance is they had the dog for 4 years and it never showed any aggression. Not sure I fully believe that though. Does this mean I think they were wrong in killing the dog? Absolutely NOT!!!
“Every person should learn how to use a firearm AND USE IT TO KILL AN ANIMAL THAT ATTACKS…PERIOD.” Agree with you 1,000 percent on both counts! I’m a firm believer in any Citizen of legal age being trained to use a gun and owning at least one.
Mcb
June 15, 2024 at 12:37 pm
It is very common for Pitbulls to turn, especially ones that have been adopted after a certain age, but they are not the only breed out there that will turn after they’ve been adopted. Animals are quite different than humans they require less. Of a reaction to turn on their owners people study humans more than they study animals the effect of animals, brains and emotions are not that well known no matter what anyone may say it is true that animals are humans best friend but they have feelings and pain just like Anything else?
Justin
June 15, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Every dog has the instinct to chase/kill. The dog being a rescue was the problem. Not knowing what has happened in the past is a major issue. Not sure what Linda’s problem is with the breed. The kid did the right thing at the mom’s urging. Sucks for the kid though
Skippy
June 15, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Keep in mind that this was a “Rescue” Dogs will mirror their owner’s in how they are raised. Owner’s should be held accountable for the dogs actions. Do you ban all Children because of the few who grow up to be a Thief, Wife beater or Serial Killer. On another note, this is a prime example of ownership of a firearm and proper knowledge of how to use it saved the life of the homeowner and quite possibly others in the home.
Jeff
June 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Linda,
I’ve owned 2 pits & they were nothing but big old babies.
How were this aggressive dogs bred, treated, etc.(and any other breed, German Shepherds, Dobermans)?
Don’t broad brush the entire breed. Education on your part is key, not emotional comments.
Steve
June 16, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Sorry, but I would never own a dog that scares me.
Mike kenney
June 16, 2024 at 11:11 pm
What idiot put up “ it should be discouraged.
Perhaps they would like to be tonights meal for some deranged dog