A large dog had brutally mauled a 5-year-old girl in her front yard when police in Iowa received a call about it early one morning. Officers were shocked to learn what the girl’s father had done while his child was being beaten up when they arrived on the scene.
For those of us who are fortunate, our father is the one person we have always been able to rely on to keep us safe. But for Elizabeth Quick, the family’s protector wasn’t your typical father. In fact, she will never forget Robert Joseph Quick’s response on the day she was most in danger of passing away.
Deputies from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office sped to a residence in Fort Madison at around 10:30 a.m. due to reports of an ongoing animal attack. Unsettlingly, when the police pulled up to the house, they discovered the extremely “large dog” still on top of its victim because it was so “aggressive.”
Elizabeth Quick, 5, was mauled to within an inch of her life when the dog suddenly attacked her in her front yard, prompting the call. Emergency personnel were completely taken aback by what her father did when he realized that the large dog was tearing his daughter apart.
Robert Joseph Quick, 33, reportedly gave his life for his 5-year-old daughter after he threw himself on a large dog to divert it from attacking the child. The vicious animal was still on top of Robert when police arrived, mauling him in a horrifying and bloody rage.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release that “Mr. Quick had defended his daughter and undoubtedly saved her life by his actions.”
Police tried to catch the dog, but it was so “aggressive” that it grabbed Robert and wouldn’t let go, so deputies shot the dog to stop the attack. According to reports, he was severely mauled and in critical condition. The selfless father, who was already dead from his wounds, gave the order for officers to help his daughter, who had been punched in the face.
Lizzie was fortunately saved and made a quick recovery at the neighborhood hospital. However, her father did not. At the scene, Robert had a fatal heart attack and died soon after. He was taken to Fort Madison Community Hospital, where doctors later declared him dead.
Robert Joseph Quick was attacked by a dog while defending his young daughter, according to a statement from the family. By the time the EMTs arrived, he had already suffered a heart attack at the scene of the collision. They were unable to revive him.
The owners of the home where the incident occurred were taking care of the dog, which just so happened to belong to a family member. Although the breed of dog that carried out the attack has not been disclosed by the authorities, this was confirmed.
Robert was survived by his wife, Dawn Quick, and his four children, according to his obituary. In addition, he “loved his children,” but more than anything else, he “enjoyed working on and collecting cars, camping, music, fishing, mushrooming, and spending time on the river.”
It is unknown who exactly owned the dog or whether any charges have been brought against the dog’s owner. The fact that the family allowed their kids to interact with the dog suggests that they never thought it would attack.
Since Robert willingly gave his life to save his daughter, he has been hailed as a hero. In order to give his young daughter a chance at life, he didn’t have to second-guess his decision to leave himself in the wake of death. He will be regarded as nothing less than a hero for caring more about his daughter’s welfare than his own life as he lay dying.
