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

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

“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.

The man accused of shooting the dog, Moses A. Kuhbander, 27, is being held 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 under disability. Kuhbander has prior felony convictions including domestic violence, burglary, and intimidating a crime 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 out 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 bullet lodged in her leg, but is making a full recovery.

“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.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com.