Quick anecdote. True story.
I'm a teacher. Many years ago, I was teaching summer school (gotta make bank in this job). While teaching a class full of seniors, my phone rang. Seeing that it was my mother, I actually took the call. Glad I did.
Long story short, she told me someone was trying to get in the house. My dad, also a teacher, was traveling for a math conference. Mom was alone...except for our incredible Akita, Jay, who was ridiculously protective of my mom. He was fearsome when necessary, but the sweetest animal.
I was only about 2 miles from our house. I bolted from the room, leaving a group of students alone to deal with American history. Sped through town and got to the house in moments, thinking it was go-time.
When I entered the house, I heard a guttural sound I'd never heard from that dog...I was actually nervous to get near him.
Just past the mud-room, Jay had the intruder pinned to the ground with his jaws snapping near the man's neck. The man was on his back, crying out for help. I didn't think I could call-off Jay, but after a minute he acquiesced and ran to my mom's side, who was up a flight of stairs.
I'm about 6'1, 225, and wrestled through HS. I put the weight of my right lower leg on the man's neck and told my mom to call the cops. When they arrived, they found me still on the man. Jay was going nuts upstairs and refused to leave my mother's side. Small town. I knew one of the cops, but I didn't want to get off the perp. Ended up having to go to the police station. Long story.
We lost Jay 20 years ago.To this day, I say a silent prayer to that dog for his protection of my mother. I will never, ever forget him. Neither will my mom. From that moment on, my mom couldn't move 10 feet without that dog beside her.
Semper fi.
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