6-year-old saves mom during dog attack, Texas dad says. ‘Wouldn’t have made it’

A 6-year-old girl’s heroic actions helped save her mother during a brutal attack involving two dogs in Texas, according to the child’s father.

Officers with the Denison Police Department said they were dispatched to a home Thursday, July 17, for a report of a dog attack.

It was the 6-year-old daughter of the woman being attacked who made the call, her father, Thomas Goligowski, said on Facebook.

Goligowski told KXII that Lindsay Stroup and their daughter, Lily Goligowski, were caring for a friend’s dogs when they began attacking each other, then Stroup.

“(Lily’s) response to what was going on with her mother was to take the cell phone, lock herself in the bathroom and dial 911,” Goligowski told the station.

When officers arrived, the two dogs began charging at them, police said. Officers fatally shot one of the dogs, and the other went back inside the home.

Animal services later came and captured the second dog, according to police.

Stroup was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, ones that could have been fatal without the actions of her daughter, loved ones said in a GoFundMe.

“Without her daughter’s bravery in calling the cops during the attack, Lindsay wouldn’t have made it,” loved ones said.

Thomas Goligowski said Stroup’s injuries may take years to recover from. Despite that, his daughter has kept a positive outlook.

“She’s (been telling) me, ‘Dad, mom’s going to be okay. I know mom’s going to be okay. Don’t be sad, Dad. She’s going to be fine,’” he told KXII.

Denison is about a 75-mile drive northeast from Dallas.

This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM with the headline "6-year-old saves mom during dog attack, Texas dad says. ‘Wouldn’t have made it’."