Pantagraph.com
NewsFriday, October 31, 2008 4:47 PM CDT
Beloved German shepherd saves woman from sexual assault
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IMPERIAL, MO. -- Tonya Kendall said her beloved German shepherd, Gracie, can chew as many shoes as she wants it’s the least she can do to thank her four-legged companion for saving her from a sexual assault.

The mother of three was at her apartment in Imperial when she heard a knock about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“Who is it?” Kendall asked.

“Cable guy,” a man answered.

She knew her neighbors had cable problems just last week.

So she opened the door.

The man pushed his way in and knocked Kendall, 32, onto the stairs behind the door. He pulled her T-shirt up and began to wrestle with her jeans. A stench, like an auto body shop combined with body odor, emanated from his gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dark stocking cap. He did nothing to cover his face.

He held his black-and-red gloved hand over her mouth. She could feel its dotted grips on her face.

Suddenly, Kendall saw Gracie at the top of the stairs. The dog leapt at the attacker, landed on his left shoulder and bit him. The man stood up and threw the 50-pound pup like a rag doll across the living room, barely missing Kendall’s 11-month-old son, who was playing with toys.

The dog charged again, this time locking on the man’s right arm. He shook himself free and flung the dog across the room once more.

“That’s all right. I’ll be back to finish what I started,” he said, and slammed the door in the dog’s face.

Kendall locked the door, grabbed her baby, a baseball bat and a knife and huddled on the couch to call the police and her fiancé.

Then there was another knock.

Kendall jumped. He knew she had seen his face; was he going to kill her?

She exhaled when detectives with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department showed her their badges. She described her attacker to a sketch artist bushy eyebrows, light-colored buzz haircut under the cap, green or blue eyes, unshaven face, pointed chin. She vomited when she saw the drawing.

“It was him, in my house, all over again,” she said. “But I can’t completely fall apart. I’ve got three children. This man is not going to ruin my life. He’s not. I won’t let him.”

She tried to sleep Wednesday night but woke up convinced she could smell her attacker in her room. Her fiancé reassured her she was safe. And she found comfort when Gracie climbed in the bed.

Take a look
Tonya Kindell sits with her son, Lucas Ferguson, 11 months, and her German shepard, Gracie, in front of her home in Imperial, Mo., on Thursday. (Lee News Service/Elie Gardner)
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Reader comments on this story - 16 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

the other shoe wrote on Nov 1, 2008 3:46 PM:

" 420
the problem is you do not know until something like this happens if the dog will actually do anything. now that this one has proven it will. you still do not know if the dog will over react in less threatning situations. on the other hand your 357 will do nothing until you pull the trigger. besides had she had a 357 there would not be the same predator out roaming the street. he might very well come back. (he did promise) or will he go after someone else in that town? It is unfortunate that the dog did not go for the throat. in this case! "

SemiNormal wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:49 AM:

" billstl:
Dogs can't fire guns... yet. "

cats55ire wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:54 PM:

" I'm glad Ms. Kendall/family are OK! Sounds like she's got a good protective dog there! Way to go Gracie!!!!!

Stay safe! "

billstl wrote on Oct 31, 2008 8:00 PM:

" Ms. Kendall needs a .357 to go with the dog. "

me wrote on Oct 31, 2008 4:21 PM:

" i have a 3 year old sheperd and a 2 month old. my male that just passed everyone that went to my neighbors parties said was a mean dog. i just told them that he wasn't mean he was just doing his job. he taught my female how to treat her family and i hope she will show my little male how to do his job. my only regret is that he couldn't teach him himself. shepards will always be my breed of choice and i don't think there is a more faithful breed around. "

EW TRUST wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:40 PM:

" Man (& Womans) best Friend! "

Kevin wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:17 PM:

" thank God you're alright "

Scapegoat wrote on Oct 31, 2008 2:20 PM:

" Shepherds are fantastic animals. Good story. "

420 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:20 PM:

" Another strike for CCW all you need is a good dog! "

mywords wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:20 PM:

" They need to use the dog to find the attacker. I bet Gracie won't forget him either! Way to go. Glad Ms. Kendall had the dog. She should always feel safe with her around. "

irishman wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:39 PM:

" I think the way times are going, everyone should have a dog like Gracie. Good
job dog. "

cheney's gun instructor wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:11 PM:

" I had a shepherd - LOVED the dog. "

Jarhead71 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:50 AM:

" MS Kendall, get one more German Shepherd to keep Gracie company and two are not going to be so easily thrown across the room. "

RTL wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:39 AM:

" What an awesome dog! Hope Ms. Kendall will get through this difficult time. "

Grandma of Two wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:30 AM:

" Find him and leave Gracie in the room with him for a few minutes. "

Jay G wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:23 AM:

" This pup should get "The Golden Milkbone Award".

Goooood Doggie! "

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