George (died 29 April 2007) was a
pet dog in
Taranaki, New Zealand, that was credited with sacrificing his life to save local children from a dog attack. George's heroism was internationally recognized, and he received posthumous awards from New Zealand and British animal charities.
Biography
A -tall
Jack Russell Terrier with "a heart condition", George lived in
Manaia, Taranaki
Manaia is a rural town in South Taranaki District, New Zealand. Ōpunake is 29 km to the northwest, and Hāwera is 13 km to the southeast. Kaponga is 15 km north. State Highway 45 passes through the town. Manaia is named after ...
, New Zealand
with his owner, widower Alan Gay
(born ).
George previously lived with Gay's neighbours, but they offered the dog to Gay when they moved away because "the dog spent so much time at his place."
Defensive action
''
The Sydney Morning Herald'' and ''
The New Zealand Herald'' reported that on 29 April 2007, five children in Manaia were walking home when they were attacked by two
pit bulls. Nine-year-old (born ) George defended the children, but was severely injured by the melee.
Gay's
veterinarian recommended
euthanising George, and while Gay reluctantly agreed with the course of action, he later came to regret the decision.
The pit bulls were also euthanised, and their owner prosecution for owning dangerous and uncontrolled dogs."
Six months later, the ''Stratford Press'' reported that it had been one pit bull versus a 14-year-old (born ) George protecting three children.
In February 2009,
Sky News reported that George had been 14 years old when he faced off two pit bulls to defend five children aged 3–12.
In the aftermath, George was praised and memorialised for his bravery and sacrifice. The
Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals awarded him a
medal for bravery, the first awarded to a dog in 17 years, and the first non-
police dog to ever receive it; Gay was to receive George's medal at the children's school. Jerrell Hudman, a
United States Marine Corps veteran of the
Vietnam War, was so impressed by George's actions, he told the ''
Taranaki Herald
The ''Taranaki Herald'' was an afternoon daily newspaper, published in New Plymouth, New Zealand. It began publishing as a four-page tabloid on 4 August 1852. Until it ceased publication in 1989, it was the oldest daily newspaper in the country.
...
'' that he would send Gay one of his three
Purple Hearts.
In spring 2007, a
bronze statue of George was unveiled in Manaia, the work of
New Plymouth's
Fridtjof Hanson.
In 2009, the
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals awarded George the
PDSA Gold Medal
__NOTOC__
The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of ...
, a decoration Sky News described as "the animal equivalent of the
George Cross"; the medal was hung about the neck of George's statue by
Anand Satyanand, then-
Governor-General of New Zealand.
See also
*
List of individual dogs
References
External links
* {{Wikinews-inline, New Zealand dog saves five children; receives international attention
2007 animal deaths
deaths due to dog attacks
individual animals in New Zealand
individual dogs