Heroic Teen Saves Boy From Dog Attack

A local teenager is being hailed a hero, after saving his 5-year-old neighbor from two attacking dogs.

The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports 5-year-old Zach Miller got home from the hospital early Sunday morning.  He has about 100 stitches and he'll need plastic surgery on his head and his ear.  But it could have been much worse had it not been for the efforts of a 17-year-old neighbor.

They barely knew each other before, now they won't forget each other.

Cody Phillips and little Zach Miller are neighbors joined together by a pit bull attack Saturday afternoon.

"Both the dogs had the little boy. One on each end and they had him up in the air just tearing him apart. And I started screaming," said Cody's mother, Shannon Ash.

Zach was outside playing when he was pulled through a fence by a pit bull and a sharpei.

"I heard a blood-curdling scream. And I went running next door. It was bad. There was blood everywhere," said Ash.

He was dragged more than 20 yards.  Then 17-year-old Cody came running out.

"When I was running towards him, I wasn't scared of the dogs at all. I just didn't have time to think about it," said Cody Phillips.

He saw Zach and jumped the fence.

"I just had to get him away from the dogs. So I just picked him up," said Phillips.

"He's more than a hero. Cause you hear about dog attacks all the time, and nobody gets involved with it," said Zach's father, Robert Miller.

Zach was taken to the hospital with extensive injuries to his head and legs.

"He was telling us that he didn't want to go to the doctor. And that he wanted his mommy," said Phillips.

"He was a hero by putting his life at risk and saving my son. Because without him and his quick reaction my son would not be here today. And that boy deserves all the glory in the world. He's a hero," said Zach's mother, Dana Miller.

Cody admits he's had a tough time with it.

"I wasn't able to sleep last night. I was having some bad dreams," said Phillips.

But with Zach back at home, he says he'll be able to sleep peacefully tonight.

Zach's will celebrate his birthday this Tuesday. He was going to have a party, but now that'll have to be rescheduled.

Cody wasn't invited, but now Zach's parents say the first thing they'll be doing is making an extra invitation.

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