Boy, 9, subdues pit bull with choke hold

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Authorities in California said a 9-year-old boy saved a girl from a pit bull attack by putting the vicious dog in a jiu-jitsu choke hold.

Drew Heredia said he was walking with the girl and her small dog in Bakersfield when the pit bull approached them and attacked the smaller canine, KGPE-TV, Fresno, Calif., reported Tuesday.

The pit bull turned its attention to the girl after she tried to rescue her dog and Heredia said he then jumped on the attacking dog's back and applied a choke hold he had learned at a local Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio.

Heredia held the pit bull in the choke hold until an animal control officer arrived and took the dog into custody.

The girl, who was hospitalized with multiple puncture wounds, and her dog are expected to recover fully.