Pit bull saved my life, Dayton woman says

A Dayton woman is crediting her pit bull with saving her family from gunfire in January.

Chelsey Welsh said Rella, short for Cinderella, was shot in the leg during a domestic dispute involving the father of Welsh’s son.

“If it wasn’t for her being the hero she is by taking that bullet, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of us,” Welsh said Tuesday.

The man accused of shooting the dog, 27-year-old Moses A. Kuhbander, is in the Montgomery County Jail on $250,000 bond. He is charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, cruelty to animals and having weapons as a felon.

Kuhbander has felony convictions that include domestic violence, burglary, and intimidating a witness.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 21.

Welsh told News Center 7 that on Jan. 9, Kuhbander barged into her home on Parnell Avenue and after an argument, pulled a gun and fired three times, hitting Rella in the leg.

“She tugged his leg going out the door,” Welsh said. “Just gave him a warning like, hey, you’ve got to go.”

Rella still has a slug lodged in her leg, but is recovering.

“She plays, she tugs, she goes after the cats even though she just likes chasing them up the tree,” Welsh said.

News Center 7 Reporter Jill Del Greco contributed to this story.