Ever heard the phrase? “It’s a dog eat dog world, you have to look out for number one”, most people have experienced this statement during their relationships with their fellow humans, many to their demise.

Does the world seem harsher to you lately? Do you often feel like striking out at those around you who seem to be the source of your irritation? You’re not alone. Many people feel this way and often carry out their feelings, on those around them. We often refer to them as bullies, their not always the people you might think would routinely intimidate and harass those around them, and often they become violent when in positions of power over those they feel they can physically or mentally intimidate. Unless 29 year old Joel Villanueva, a resident of North Vancouver, is nearby that is, and one 69 year old cab driver, also a North Vancouver resident, recently became the beneficiary of Mr Villanueva’s heroics.

On the night of April 17 Joel witnessed a young man beating up a taxi driver, “I could hear the punches from all the way across the street,” he said. Turning he saw a young man repeatedly punching an elderly cab driver in the throat and face, before smashing his head against the back of the cab and kicking him in the midsection several times while he was down.

Staying calm and collected, he pulled his hood down shielding his face and then approached the attacker asking for a light for his cigarette, not wanting to spook him into running.
Once in range he tackled the attacker to the ground and held his head down with is knee while dialling the police on his cell phone, thank god for cell phones.

The RCMP arrived a few minutes later to take the attacker into custody, where he remains awaiting arraignment on assault charges.
If not for the intervention of this gentleman, who was just near by at the time, this elderly gentleman may not be around to play with his grandchildren. Joel is a throw back to another age when people cared about one another and looked out for one another, protected each other in times of danger. This trait is something that hasn’t been passed down to most of the new generation, who in the situation like Joel found himself in would probably act like a real mutt, instead of a human being who might be in need of protection itself one day.