Go Jack!

This sad story touched me when I read it today. George, the Jack Russell terrier, leapt to the defence of 5 children in New Zealand when they were threatened by 2 pit bulls.

Richard Rosewarne, 11, the oldest of the children, said the pit bulls came up behind them and were going for his brother Darryl Wilson, 4.

“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.

“We ran off crying and some people saw what was happening and rescued George.”

But George’s injuries were so bad, he had to be put down.

George’s owner Alan Gay, 69, says his dog died a hero.

“These two pit bulls rushed up and were going for the little boy. George went for them, it’s what he would do. He didn’t stand a chance, but I reckon he saved that boy from being chewed up.

“These pit bulls should be banned. They’re killers and it comes from them being bred for fighting.”

Absolutely! Why do people need to own these big aggressive dogs? Overcompensating for other deficiencies?

Of course, having a Jack Russell in our family makes George’s story all that much sadder. Knowing our JR, he obviously thinks he’s much bigger than he is … not that he’d get into a dangerous situation like that. Bit hard when he spends most of his time sleeping, lying in the sun and eating, interrupted only by his need to patrol our back yard and tell all the other dogs in the neighbourhood off.

Here he is, in his favourite position, sitting on the back of the lounge taking in the morning sun.