Boy Plays Dead, Survives Attack by Three Dogs

As three snarling dogs pulled him down, biting and tearing at his throat and head, 14-year-old Tony Byrd realized he had to do something to save his life. So he played dead.

Doctors said quick thinking saved the life of the eighth-grader, who was attacked on his way to school Friday by three big Rottweiler dogs.

The youngster was recovering Sunday from innumerable deep bites and slashes on virtually every part of his body. Nurses gave him pain medication every few hours, along with shots to ward off infection and the possibility of rabies.

Greg Coker, 21, was charged with letting his dogs run loose and unattended and with keeping vicious animals. Officers said they will seek a judge’s permission to have the three dogs destroyed.

“Playing dead--that’s what saved his life,” said Tony’s stepfather, Gary Lawrence.

Lawrence said his 5-foot, 95-pound stepson decided to walk to school after missing his bus Friday morning and took a shortcut through a wooded area.

“He heard the dogs barking. He crossed a litle bridge over a creek. He said the barking got louder. He knew they were coming toward him and he hid behind a tree. He thought he could hide from them.

“The dogs came and circled him. They jumped up and were biting at him all over,” Lawrence said. “He said he fought back but they finally dragged him down and dragged him quite a ways. Finally he thought to roll over on his stomach and cover his head with his arms and play dead.”

After he lay still, the dogs quit biting him. But they did not leave until they heard someone whistling for them.