A feisty Jack Russell terrier has given his life to save five children from a mauling by two savage pitbulls.
NIC GIBSON/Taranaki Daily News
OUR SAVIOUR: Manaia youngster Darryl Wilson, 4, holds a photo of George the Jack Russell. Nine-year-old George was killed by two pitbulls which were threatening Darryl and other children in the town on Sunday. Also pictured are George's owner Alan Gay (69), Richard Rosewarne, Christian Rosewarne, 8, and Kelly Rosewarne, 10. Their two-year-old sister, who also witnessed the attack, did not want to be in the photo.
The tiny dog leapt to the defence of the children - aged between 4 and 11 - when the two rogue pitbulls threatened them on the way to a dairy in Manaia on Sunday.
The attack was the final straw for the South Taranaki District Council, which says it intends hunting down all dangerous and unregistered dogs and neuter them.
Richard Rosewarne (11), the oldest of the children, said the pitbulls 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 nine-year-old George was so badly ripped apart he had to be put down.
Vet Steven Hopkinson, of the South Taranaki Animal Health Services Ltd, said the injuries were the worst he had seen.
George's owner Alan Gay (69), says his dog died a hero.
"These two pitbulls 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 pitbulls should be banned. They're killers and it comes from them being bred for fighting."
Mr Gay lives alone and George had been his faithful companion for about seven years. He inherited George as a young dog after his former neighbours moved away.
The dogs disappeared after the attack, but yesterday dog rangers removed two pitbulls from a Manaia property.
South Taranaki environment services manager Graham Young says they are fairly certain the dogs were involved in Sunday's attack.
The dogs are in the pound and the council will be seeking the animals' destruction.
"Council will also be looking at a prosecution of the owners," Mr Young said.
In the past two months, four separate incidents have been reported in Manaia of pitbulls attacking other dogs and menacing children.
However, Mr Young said it was unknown whether the two impounded pitbulls were responsible for any of the other attacks.
But the attacks have prompted the council to introduce desexing of aggressive dogs. The council says it is empowered to take this action by the Dog Control Act.
"When any of these dogs come to our notice through registration or for reported menacing or any other reason, we will require desexing unless the owner can convince us to not to. Each case will be treated on its merits," Mr Young says.
The council will have a "zero tolerance" policy towards all unregistered, roaming and menacing dogs.
Mr Young said council officers were doing a property to property search throughout Manaia in order to locate such dogs and their owners, with the intention to destroy the dogs.
No warnings would be given to owners of unregistered dogs, he said.
The council will make a leaflet drop to Manaia's 400 houses this weekend, warning people to be on the lookout for menacing dogs and report sightings to an 0800 number.
"They have checked out and eliminated any pitbulls registered in Manaia and will be showing zero tolerance towards any unregistered, roaming and menacing dogs," Mr Young said. "The dogs will be taken to the pound and owners will be able to retrieve them only after paying $300 infringement fees. Owners of roaming dogs will have to pay $200 infringement fees."
Reference:Stuff
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