OH: 10-year-old boy recognized as 'Finest Hero' for saving brother from dog attack

OH: 10-year-old boy recognized as 'Finest Hero' for saving brother from dog attack
By Megan Gildow
Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Springfield, Ohio — In the week since he saved his younger brother from a dog attack, 10-year-old Brian Singleton has been on the front page of the paper, the evening news and had a day proclaimed in his recognition. "I think it's swell, but too much attention can get on your nerves," said the student declared by Lagonda Elementary to be the school's "Finest Hero."

Brian and his younger brother, Hayden Bradley, were recognized at a school-wide assembly Tuesday, March 3, along with Springfield Manor employees Cathy McCarty, Phil Bogard, Dawn Massie, Janet Varrasso and Lettie Austin and resident Gary McCarty.

Brian and Hayden were walking home from school Feb. 23, when two loose dogs approached the two boys as they walked up the hill at Springfield Manor. Brian put himself in the dogs' path to spare his brother, and several employees from Springfield Manor and Gary McCarty assisted the two youngsters.

"We have a lot of heroes in Springfield and a lot of love," school board President Donna Picklesimer said at the recognition. Prior to the assembly, Cristen Carlson and her daughter, Avery, discussed dog safety with the students with therapy pet Blanche on hand to demonstrate.

Brian, who received a gift from the school staff in addition to a Humanitarian Award and badges from the Springfield Division of Police, said he still likes dogs and knows most of them are friendly despite his ordeal. He spoke fondly of the 10 beagle pups his family tended in Kentucky one year.

The city commission proclaimed March 3, 2009, Brian Singleton Recognition Day, said Mayor Warren Copeland, also in attendance. "I'm honored to meet the mayor of Springfield, and I want to thank all the people that gave me gifts," Brian said. "I think it's wonderful to meet everyone that I've met."

• Lagonda Elementary School Principal Mike Manoloff asked Donna Bradley, mother of Brian Singleton and Hayden Bailey to write a narrative of the dog attack that launched 10-year-old Brian into the "Hometown Hero" spotlight.

Here is how she recalls the incident:

"Heroes at work: Big and Small"

Brian would always ask me if he could walk or ride his bike to school. A majority of the time I would say "no," but there were a few times I would allow him to walk to school. Brian and his younger brother, Hayden, walked to and from school for two weeks after our car broke down. My neighbor, which also is my employer, allowed me to use the company van to take them to school. However, I was not able to pick them up due to the fact that I was still at work when they got out. They were told not to talk to strangers or to stop at any friend?s houses.... they were to come straight home where my boyfriend Dave would watch them until I got home from work. I never thought to talk to them about what to do when dogs approached them.

Three-fifteen came, then 3:20... they were not home. I went to look for them. I walked the way they normally took and reached the school with still no sign of them. I called home to see if they had arrived yet and they had not... they were at Mercy Medical.

When I arrived at the hospital, I was relieved to see that Hayden was not injured and Brian?s injuries were not as bad as I thought they would be. Brian was very scared, still crying, but I held on to him and asked if he was going to be o.k. Tears rolled down his face and he shook his head.

A day later, Brian was finally ready to talk about what happened. Here said:

"Two dogs ran up to me and my brother and began barking loudly. We ran and fell. Hayden got to his feet and instantly froze... but they were still coming. I was scared for my brother and myself. I ran backwards which is something I know I shouldn?t do, but I distracted the dogs from getting my little brother... but now I was in trouble. I yelled for help and Cathy came. She was yelling at the dogs... that didn't work so she began to punch the dog in the head... and that didn't work. My shoe fell off and Cathy picked it up and used it. The dogs yelped and I was free. I was still worried about my brother.... SAVE MY BROTHER! A man picked me up and carried me inside where some nurses looked at my bites and doctored me up."

At this time, Cathy was focused on getting Hayden to safety. The dogs were then moving towards Hayden. "Stand still... don?t move... don't scream," Cathy told Hayden. The dogs were now ripping at Hayden's clothes. Hayden cried out for help. Cathy approached Hayden and put his back to her front and walked slowly backwards. "I always heard not to turn your back on a dog," she later told me.

From Mom

I thank God for all of those who were there for my children at Springfield Manor and for the staff and students at Lagonda Elementary who went above and beyond for our family.

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