Big Hero Comes in a Small Size in Putnam Valley

The Town of Putnam Valley, Putnam County and the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department, honored Cub Scout Jake Beecher with certificates for his outstanding bravery and courage for saving sister, Kayla, from a dog that was attacking them.

On Oct. 5, Jake and Kayla were going door to door on Lincoln Road for a Girl Scout fundraiser, when a 120-pound bullmastiff charged.  Jake pushed Kayla out of the way without a thought for his own safety and screamed at her to run as the dog latched on to his arm and bit his chest.  The owners were able to pull the dog off Jake, but not before he had sustained serious injuries to his right arm and chest.  Jake has had several surgeries to repair the damages, and he has not been back to school since the attack.

“I didn’t think, I just did it,” said Jake, adding that it all happened “pretty quick.”

Kayla stood at Jake’s side after the awards were presented, in turn, by Supervisor Robert Tendy, County Executive MaryEllen Odell and Sheriff Donald Smith.  When asked if Jake is her hero, Kayla nodded shyly and took his hand.

“Yeah,” Jake admitted. “She treats me pretty good.”

 By Barbara O’Hare

Adam Stone

Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.