Terrier Dies Protecting Kids From Pit Bulls

**Retmilleo909** · 05-02-07, 11:09 PM

Terrier Dies Protecting Kids From Pit Bulls
AP
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (May 2) - A plucky Jack Russell terrier named George saved five children from two marauding pit bulls, but was so severely mauled in the fight that it had to be put down, its owner said Wednesday.
George was playing with the group of children as they returned home from buying sweets at a neighborhood shop in the small North Island town of Manaia last Sunday when the two pit bulls appeared and lunged toward them, Allan Gay said.

"George was brave - he took them on and he's not even a foot high," Gay told The Associated Press. "He jumped in on them, he tried to keep them off.

"If it wasn't for George, those kids would have copped it."

One of the children, Richard Rosewarne, 11, was quoted in the Taranaki Daily News on Wednesday as saying George fought with the pit bulls to keep them off his 4-year-old brother, Darryl.

"George tried to protect us by barking and rushing at them, but they started to bite him - one on the head and the other on the back," Rosewarne said. "We ran off crying and some people saw what was happening and rescued George."
But George was so badly mauled that a veterinarian had to put him down, Gay said.

South Taranaki District Council official Graham Young said the two pit bulls had been impounded, and likely would be put down because of the attack.

In New Zealand, owners of dogs judged to be too aggressive can be required to have them neutered and dogs involved in attacks are destroyed.

George

A Pit Bull, similar to the one's who mauled George

**Autumn2009** · 05-02-07, 11:13 PM

Reasoning why I value dogs more than I value some people.

**Piggybank Cop** · 05-03-07, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Autumn2009

Reasoning why I value dogs more than I value some people.

most

**Cidp24** · 05-03-07, 09:20 AM

I can believe that. My little 8 month old Jack Russell thinks she can whip anything that comes in the yard. Those pups, pound for pound, have more heart than any pit bull.

**gozling** · 05-03-07, 09:27 AM

I feel so bad for those kids losing their dog....
however now they know that heros come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

**countybear** · 05-03-07, 09:41 AM

Jack Russells are known for smarts and tenacity. Perfect example of the noble breed here.

**TXCOP** · 05-04-07, 08:03 AM

We're talking about dogs bred to go underground for days and hunt for weasels and such. These things don't have an ounce of "backdown" in them. I'm proud to have one.

**Hawk1** · 05-04-07, 08:23 AM

Thats a lot of ticker for a little dog. Is sad that had to be destroyed due to injuries sustained.
So George..here's a scruffy pat on the head, a big doggie biscuit and a bed in the sun heading your way. RIP George.

**rob84** · 05-04-07, 08:36 AM

I love both jack russles, and pit bulls. Jack Russels have an enormous amount of heart, and this story proves it. Its just a shame that pit bulls always get a bad rap. You can train any dog to be aggressive and mean, but its mainly pit bulls that you see in the media, made to look like monsters. Its the irrisponsible pieces of sh!t that train them to be aggressive. Just because the breed is a good fighter, doesn't mean it has to be one. Ive been attacked by all kinds of dogs, from ankle biting weiner dogs, to german shepards. It all depends on how the dog is raised.

**Cidp24** · 05-04-07, 12:00 PM

My 8 month old JR will hold onto a toy and let me pick her up off the ground. Refuses to let go, growling all the time. She also goes completely nuts when a stranger comes in the house, hackles up, growling and barking, until I can show her that the person is not a threat. I have 2 JRs and one JR/Pomeranian mix. I love the breed. Tenacious is not a strong enough word.

RIP George. Good dog.