Dog Helps Save Philly Toddler From Roof



PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A toddler who climbed out a second-story window onto the porch roof of his family's row house was followed by his dog, whose barks alerted neighbors who rescued the child.

Phillip Redmond Jr., who will be 2 years old next month, apparently climbed out of a broken bedroom window Sunday and scampered across the narrow porch rooftops of at least eight homes, neighbors said.

The row homes have connected porch roofs; neighbors heard barking and saw the boy running from roof to roof followed by the family's German shepherd, Alfie.

"He was following the baby across," neighbor Tina Mitchell told WPVI-TV. "He was protecting the baby, making sure the baby was all right."

A neighbor, Shavyonn Robinson, was able to grab the toddler from the porch roof of a home a few doors down. The footprints of Phillip and Alfie could be seen in the blacktop coating on the porch roofs.

"First I had my hand sticking out (of the window) trying to grab him," she said. "That's when he tried to run past, because he thought I was playing with him, and he almost fell so I had to go out and get him."

Police questioned the toddler's parents, Phillip Redmond and Katie Berkelback, but no charges have been filed. Child welfare officials placed the boy in the care of relatives while the incident is investigated, said the boy's father, adding that he was embarrassed but grateful that his son was fine.

"It was my fault," he said. "I didn't think he could get out there."



Associated Press

__________________
* Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy.

~Ron Paul

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
- James Madison

I love dogs.

But my question is how long was this two year old by himself. I mean from roof top to roof top come on at least 15 to 20 mins.

It couldn't have been too long, a barking dog on your roof would wake you up, KWIM?

__________________
* Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy.

~Ron Paul

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
- James Madison

he went across several roof tops?

I saw this on the news. When they're talking "rooftops," they're talking like the porch roofs of rowhouses. Narrow. Joined together. And the footprints of both child and dog covered several.

The father was in shock in the tv interview. He just kept repeating, "It's my fault. It's my fault."

Alfie's a #### good looking dog, as well as incredibly loyal. He deserves a steak. And a good belly rub.

__________________
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
-- H. L. Mencken

i think alfie and the kid deserve NEW HOMES! WTF?? great, it's the father's fault... how did the baby get out of the window in the first place? i just don't understand how something like this could happen. thank doG alfie was there...

shannon

__________________

Agreed!!!!