A Cobb County girl walking her dog before school Thursday was nearly abducted by a man, according to police. And she has her family’s 4-year-old rat terrier mix to thank for helping her escape.

The dog bit the man’s ankle, and he let go of the girl’s wrist, police said. Thursday night, the girl’s mom told Channel 2 Action News she was thankful the dog bit the man.

“My hero,” Jennifer Jones said. “My daughter’s hero.”

The girl was walking northbound on Darnell Road near Barber Road in the Marietta area between 7 and 7:20 a.m., Sgt. Dana Pierce with Cobb police said. A white, newer model pickup truck with a single cab stopped nearby, he said.

As the girl walked by the truck, the driver got out and grabbed the girl’s wrist, she told police.

“As he did, the victim’s dog bit at his ankle causing him to release her,” Pierce said in an emailed statement. “It was at that moment that the victim was able to get away from him.”

The girl told police that the truck, which had scratches on the right side and rear, then drove northbound on Darnell Road.

The suspect was described as being a middle-aged man about 5-foot-1o with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a royal blue hoodie and a dark-colored ball cap with a green symbol on it, according to police. A GBI artist compiled a sketch of the suspect, based on the girl’s description of him.

“When someone takes and steps across a line, as this individual has done to actually grab this young lady, that’s a huge concern for us,” Pierce told Channel 2.

Anyone with information about this attempted abduction is asked to call 770- 801-3470 or 911.

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez