Gabrielle Giffords' Husband Pulls Daughter's Dog Off Sea Lion In Laguna Beach
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LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Gabrielle Giffords' husband pulled his daughter's dog off of a sea lion in Laguna Beach over the weekend.
The incident, which was captured on video, happened around 1:40 p.m. Saturday at Goff Cove Beach by the Montage Laguna Beach.
Retired astronaut Mark Kelly's 18-year-old daughter, who was on vacation with her father and Giffords, was walking the American bulldog on a leash when the 65-pound dog saw the sea lion, ran off and attacked.
Nathan, who declined to give his last name, happened to be having lunch nearby when he started to film the chaotic scene on his cellphone.
The graphic video, which he later posted on YouTube, showed the young girl screaming while her dog had the sea lion by the neck.
Two other women tried to help until Kelly finally arrived and forced the dog off of the animal.
The sea lion later died.
"It was pretty much just panic. People didn't know how to act when a dog of this size just locked down (and didn't let go)," said Nathan.
Nathan said he posted the video online unaware it featured the family of former Arizona Congresswoman Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011.
"I was shocked. I didn't know that it was them. I felt bad that they went through this stressful situation," he said.
Police said the Kelly family did nothing wrong and no one will face any charges.
Nathan hopes the video will serve as a reminder to pet owners that things can quickly go awry with an overpowering dog.
"If you have a dog of that stature and that power, they should be accompanied by someone who can handle a dog that is as powerful as an American bulldog," he said.
