News

Roof Trotting Toddler Saved by Family Dog

Sunday, July 16, 2006

July 16, 2006 -- A Southwest Philadelphia toddler is safe tonight, thanks in large part to the family dog... who followed him up on the roof!

Neighbors on the 6300-block of Reedland were horrified early this morning when they saw a 23-month-old boy and a barking dog running along porch rooftops. Patti Pertocelli/NEIGHBOR: "I heard something and when I looked up the baby was running back and forth across the roof with the German Shepherd dog." The baby was little Phillip Redmond Jr. who'll be 2 next month and his family's female German Shepherd Alfie. While his parents were sleeping, Phillip apparently climbed from their bed and out a broken window onto the roof, followed by Alfie. Their footprints can still be seen on the black roofing material of the row houses. Tina Mitchell/NEIGHBOR: "He was following the baby across. He was protecting the baby, making sure the baby was alright." The toddler scampered across the rooftops of at least 8 homes. All the while Alfie stuck by, barking his head off. Finally a neighbor was able to grab him. Shavyonn Robinson/NEIGHBOR: "First I had my hand sticking out trying to grab him. That's when he tried to run past cause he thought I was playing with him and he almost fell so I had to go out and get him." Police arrived and transported Phillip and his mother, 20-year-old Katie Berkelback, first to the hospital to be checked out, then to the Special Victims Unit. Phillip Redmond/FATHER: "They had a lot of questions for us. Real curious about what 2 parents were doing and how the child got out the window unattended. I was embarrassed but thankful he's fine." Redmond says child welfare officials are involved and his son will be put in the care of relatives while an investigation is conducted. Meantime neighbors are marveling about how Alfie the pooch protected his little pal from what could have become a tragedy.

Get more News »