Posted on 05/02/2007 3:26:57 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
George, a nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, was put down after being savagely attacked by two pitbulls in the Taranaki township of Manaia on Sunday.
George was walking into town with a group of children who lived next door when the pitbulls rushed the group, heading for a four-year-old boy.
The boy's 11-year-old brother, Richard Rosewarne, said George started barking and rushed at the pitbulls as the children ran away.
George's owner, 69-year-old Alan Gay, said the pitbulls savaged George until a passing motorist intervened and managed to separate the dogs.
The first Mr Gay knew about the incident was when a local vet rang him and told him his dog had suffered horrific injuries. Mr Gay decided to have George put down.
He told NZPA today he had been receiving phonecalls non-stop from relatives and media organisations since word of George's heroics got out.
"The phone has been going since about half past seven this morning. Everytime I hang up it rings again. It's worn out, I might have to get a new one," he said.
He said as long as there were pitbulls there would be incidents like Sundays.
"I don't think it's wise for anyone to have pitbulls. They're killers, they only know one thing.
"But the little Jack Russells like George, they're harmless."
Mr Gay said unrestrained dogs had historically caused problems in Manaia and he would be reluctant to replace George.
"The town would have to clean up its wandering dogs first. If I got a puppy here he's going to couple up with the kids next door, they're going to go up town and he'll follow them and there'll be problems if there's pitbull terriers around."
He said the children next door had been fond of George and had written a note for him.
"In memory of George, we are sorry that George left in such a terrible way. He was our guardian and hero whenever we went walking and we will never forget him," the note said.
Mr Gay was told by South Taranaki District Council staff that the two pitbulls were found after the attack and the owner had admitted they had returned home on Sunday covered in blood. They were impounded awaiting destruction and the owner may be prosecuted.
The council said it intended hunting down all dangerous and unregistered dogs and neutering them.
Here's a sad tale of a wee doggie hero, who tried to tip the scales in favor of the Good Guys and who gave his life trying: "George" was a tiny wee bloke who died to save a 4-yr old kid from a pair of savage criminal dangerous dogs.
Outnumbered two-to-one and hopelessly outclassed, this wee hero saved the day, and a wee 4-yr old kid is alive because of "George" and his heroic and final act of self-sacrifice.
At nine years old, "George" a pensioner amongst his fellow Jack Russell Terriers, should have been enjoying his well-earned retirement -- until Duty Called. He answered the sound of the trumpets decisively and with no regard for his personal safety.
If he were human, he would have qualified for the Victoria Cross or for the Medal of Honor.
Brave wee dog: pint-sized, hardly larger than a pound of butter, but with a huge Heart, true to his breed. There is a good reason why dogs are Man's Best Friend. "George" proved it for us, Lest We Forget.
Good dog, George. Well done! Prayers up...
Ping!
Jack Russell terriers are a wonderful breed of dog.
Little George is representative. Bless his big, brave heart.
They are fierce little b@stards, and protective of their “pack.” My MIL has one, and it adores the kids. God help anyone — human or animal — that tried to harm one on=f them on his watch.
The people that owned the dogs had been warned several times by the police after several escapes from their own yard and several attacks on other dogs and some of the other neighbors.
My sister filed suit against them and the people left the neighborhood. Several small children in the Houston area have been mauled and died of their injuries after pit bull attacks.
OK Here’s where I get nailed.
This story complains of dogs running loose and yet wasnt George also loose. No mention of a collar on George.
Did the pitbulls really head for the 4 year old or did they rush after George . I have found that when one is with a dog ,other dogs tend to be more interested in the dog than the person. Dogs always sniff each other and walk around as though checking out the other dog. Was George barking at the pit bulls the whole time ?
Now I dont mean to take away anything from George,and I sure dont like Pit Bulls, and two dogs running together tend to get into trouble.
I see the scenario as a bunch of kids going along with their friend George who was running beside them untethered. They came upon these two Pit Bulls who were also running loose and the dogs started barking and smoking over each other as dogs will do,and poor George got the worst of it.
I understand why the criminal element likes them which is another good reason to ban them.
We have several pit bulls in the neighborhood - they held an elderly neighbor at bay in his own yard. They also attacked a dog on a leash being walked by its owner. If people insist on having pitbulls, there should be no chance of escape from the owner's premises. These guys are weapons.
It’s got nothing to do with the breed. Dogs are what their owners make them.
Pitbulls in Dade County, FL are illegal to own. They banned them 10-20 years ago after one horrific year of pitbull attacks on people and children. If you are caught with one, they will fine you around $500.00 a day. I know a lot of people don’t like the fact that they were banned but I am glad not to see any more newsreports about children getting attacked.
I have no use for Pit Buls either, George may indeed have had a collar on,but a leash wasnt mentioned.
In your post you mention them attacking another dog on a leash and indeed dogs will do that. The point is that dogs will usually attack another dog thats present ,before they will attack a human, especially if that dog is on a leash.Being on a leash hinders a dogs freedom and places them at a disadvantage,other dogs sense that.
IMO people who have pit bulls have them because they wish to protect their property or themselves with a mean dog or at least give the appearance of having a mean dog.Pit Bulls are for intimidation. They certainly dont have the beauty of a Golden Retriever or Dalmatian nor do they make good lap dogs like the Poodles or Pomeranians. They dont have the dignity of a Great Dane or German Shepherd.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,but I dont see the beauty of a dog that frightens the neighbors and has the reputation of the pit bull.
IMO people who get pit bulls are trying to intimidate someone. Either housebreakers or neighbors.
Carolyn
Jack Russell terriers, pound for pound ...champions.
They have hearts as big as grapefruits.
I own six.
Brought a male and female from Ireland to breed them for sale.
Had a single litter of four.
After they were given names, based or very individual and distinct personalities .....
Kept them all, no more breeding.
> OK Here’s where I get nailed.
I’m not going to nail you for any of that. Maybe you haven’t had much chance to be around dogs and learn how they go and what their thought processes are. Lots of folks are like that, many of them own cats.
The story is scant on detail, such as whether George had a collar. More than likely, he would have been licensed.
He was a small dog walking with kids, under control. No danger to anyone. A Jack Russell Terrier will try to chew the merry Hell out of your ankle if you are a Bad Guy, but aside from that they are happy, neat, energetic and very intelligent little dogs that will do anything to please. Very safe around kids.
The Pit Bulls were unregistered and roaming at large. Huge mungrels, probably of dodgy pedigree. Probably not socialized in any meaningful way. Dangerous to everyone on the street, and certainly to anyone they chose to attack: and in this case, a 4 yr old kid.
I am very, very wary of Pit Bulls and their various mungrel cross-breeds. They are just plain dangerous, bred to be anti-social and virtually untrainable.
Would it have been different if wee George had been on a leash? Actually, IMO it would certainly have been worse. A “normal” non-dangerous dog on a leash is quite a bit more aggressive than a dog off-leash. Any competent dog trainer will tell you this. If your dog on a leash is barking and lunging at or fighting with another dog on a leash, then simply drop the leash. It has a Christianizing effect on the dog, because he/she is no longer under the control and protection of his/her owner. They feel very much “on their own”.
Normal dogs “project” their aggression: “Crikey! Bark-bark-bark! You sure are lucky I’m on a leash, or I’d bl**dy rip you to bits! Bark-bark-bark! C’mon ya mungrel, get a piece of me! If only my Master would let me off-leash, you’d be Toast! Bark-bark-bark! Lucky for you, I’m not! Bark-bark-bark!”
So had “George” been on leash, IMO he would have been more aggressive not less, and he would have been at a severe disadvantage encountering dangerous dogs who do not observe the norm as described above.
George died a hero’s death, defending kids against a pair of dangerous dogs: dogs who do not observe dog “norms” of behavior. Otherwise, kids would have been dead. Thank Christ for George: if there is a Heaven for Dogs, I trust he is there.
Talk about courage! It is the equivalent of the 98 lb weakling stepping into the ring with a 250 lb Muay Tai martial artist and a samurai-sword-wielding Ninja. And George thought nothing of doing this, giving his wee life for those kids.
“For greater love hath no dog than this...”
Unfortunately, NOT true. The BREED of the dog is what “make” them the way they are. Pit Bulls were bred for a specific purpose — and that purpose makes them large, aggressive, and dangerous.
I have no need or use for a Pit Bull. While others say they may, that’s their issue and future responsibility. I have two dogs (one of them through marriage) and I love them; they are wonderful companions and pets. But I will NEVER own a Pit Bull, no matter “how good they are,” or, “how well their breeder has trained them.”
Case in point: when was the last time you read about a Labrador Retriever or a Jack Russell Terrier mauling a grown adult and killing them?
Sorry. Rant off.
Neal
I don’t want to pee on George’s parade either.
I really like JRs.
A friend has one and it’s always a joy to see him and he seems to have a soft spot for me as well.
I jokingly call them mini-pits because of their friendliness, energy, enthusiasm and tenacity.
I look at articles like this with some scepticism.
Personally I know an owner of an AmStaff that had her dog on leash
when the loose JR from next door ran over
and latched onto her dog’s mouth and wouldn’t let go.
The AmStaff didn’t fight back only cried in pain.
When the folks finally got the JR off the damage to my friends dog
was serious enough for a trip to the vet and stitches.
A complaint was filed and the JR’s owners had to pay the bills.
After that we don’t know what happened but the JR was no longer seen in the neighborhood
In this article the ultimate blame must go to the owners of the ‘pit bulls’ allowing their dogs to roam,
(and perhaps a little to the JR’s owners if he was off leash as well)
but it isn’t entirely impossible to imagine that they had no intention of either attacking the kids or the JR.
The article says they “rushed” the group.
That pretty much described the behavior of any curious dog and it may be innocuous.
They could have been just as harmless as some seem to think JRs are
while the JR could have been just as aggressive as some think ‘pit bulls’ are.
It is quite easy to imagine the JR as the aggressor who bit off a bit more that he could chew.
When encountering stories like this it is easy to react emotionally
but harder to use our heads and respond appropriately.
Bottom line is people need to keep their dogs under control.
Two or more dogs running together adds the danger of pack behavior.
Owners of larger dogs have an even greater responsibility due to the potentially greater damage their dogs can do.
Owners of terrier types must be aware that while they might be quite content to be couch potatoes
they are also hunters and the potential for aggressive behavior will always there.
Sad story all around and could have been avoided with responsible ownership.
Was there not a responsible adult around with a gun to defend the kids?
Sorry, but you are wrong about this. Pit bulls were originally bred for fighting and they have a very strong prey instinct. They will go after small animals, small children, etc. This information can actually be found on pit bull rescue sites. A pit bull owner must be an extremely responsible person who is willing to spend a lot of time on training. Most owners do not meet this criteria.
> It’s got nothing to do with the breed. Dogs are what their owners make them.
To a limited extent, I might agree. Undesirable traits like aggression can be bred into and out of dogs. A huge amount does come down to the owners. Definitely.
I might be able to take a dog with aggressive tendancies bred into it and, with lots and lots of training and attention, condition it to curb its aggression. But I would never ever feel safe leaving it alone with kids. It would certainly never become affectionate and safe.
Some dogs are just plain dangerous, thru no fault of their own. They were born that way, thru sloppy (and perhaps deliberate) breeding.
> Was there not a responsible adult around with a gun to defend the kids?
No. Armed response in NZ is the exception and not the rule. And most folk with guns around fighting dogs and kids are a danger to themselves and others if they started to blast away into a swirling mass of fur and teeth and torn clothes and bleeding flesh and screaming kids.
You Yanks maybe ought to de-condition yourselves away from Firearms being the solution to every problem. In this case, a bucket of cold water would have been much safer and infinitely more effective. Fireworks — the noisier the better — would have worked too: dogs hate ‘em. Or one of those aerosol fog-horns, the sort you carry on your boat? Perfect! Let that thing off, and all dogs will scurry. No flying lead to accidentally injure kids by “friendly fire”.
Or in a pinch, a police whistle works well.
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