Tiny terrier saves kids from pit bulls
 

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- 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.

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I smell a logical poll after this post

New Zealand must be backwards. I didn't think kids went to the store anymore to buy "sweets"

Good dog.

Sweets is code for drugs. These kids were obviously mules and the pit bulls were a rival gang trying to grab their smack which had quite a street value. The Terrier must of been their protection and he went down like Tupac.

Man I hate to hear the dog died because I am a real dog lover and I love my little dog, she is a miniature schnauzer. It just proves the loyalty of dogs to their owners, poor dog but he went down protecting the ones he loved. Good story sad ending.

I hate Pit Bulls!

Those pit bulls need to be taken over to Michael Vick's relative's home.

"Marcus!!!"

They probably weren't real pit bulls. Pit bulls aren't mean. They were probably some other kind of dog that just looks like a pitt bull.

No difference between pitbulls and wolves

UGH

I am really starting to hate people that own pit bulls.

That little dog is a hero though. ANd he is in doggie heaven now. Yeah, I am cheesy. :)

Yeah.... no.

The only things that wolves and pitbulls have in common is that they both have fur, teeth, and belong to the Canis genus.

Aside from that, they are NOTHING alike.

any responsible pit bull owner will give their dogs exercise. like throwing goats in the back yard once a week. just watch dog whisperer

Uh-oh, no you di-nt.