Woman grateful deputy lured pit bulls into cruiser

BELLEAIR BEACH — Caroline Sofer was in her front yard with her puppy when she saw the two pit bull terriers skulking near a neighbor's mailbox Friday morning.

"They were definitely on the prowl," Sofer said. "They were in stalking mode."

Sofer walked slowly toward her 4-month-old Doberman Pinscher puppy, Cody, trying to remain calm so the loose pit bulls wouldn't attack, she said.

She scooped Cody up and headed for her open garage door.

That's when the pit bulls — a male and a female — made a beeline for Sofer and Cody.

"I had seconds to get in that garage before they came pounding up my driveway," Sofer said.

The dogs, Cushman and Nina, stuck their noses under the garage door as it closed behind Sofer, she said. As Sofer called 911, she watched the dogs circle her house at 117 Fifth St. One jumped in the pool, then both fled.

Within moments of her 9 a.m. call, Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Vance Nussbaum arrived, Sofer said.

A short time later, Nussbaum found the dogs in the neighborhood. They came when he called, but wouldn't jump in his car, the Sheriff's Office said.

So Nussbaum grabbed some dog treats that he carries with him and tossed them into the back of his cruiser. Nina and Cushman jumped in after them.

"He carries them all the time," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda. "He happens to be a dog lover and it served him well this time."

Nussbaum drove them to Pinellas County Animal Services, where they remained Monday. The dogs belong to Timothy Frank of 405 Maxwell Place, Indian Rocks Beach, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Frank was cited by Nussbaum in April for allowing the dogs to run at-large and for having no tags.

Greg Andrews, Animals Services' operations manager, said the dogs will be held until an investigation is complete.

"The owner does know that they're here and that they're under investigation," he said.

Frank could not be reached for comment Monday.

The fate of the dogs is unclear. Dogs in Pinellas County can be deemed a threat to public safety if they bite people, injure or kill pets more than once, or have been used for dogfighting. But they also can receive the classification for chasing or approaching people "in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack."

Andrews said it would be premature to speculate on the outcome of the investigation, which may be wrapped up by the end of the week.

Sofer said Monday she was "still shaken" from the encounter.

But she had high praise for the quick-thinking, dog-loving deputy.

"The man has some kind of aura about him. He's just great," Sofer said. "He's definitely Cody's and my hero."

Rita Farlow can be reached at farlow@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4157.