Jack Russell catches fire at South Island beach

An elderly Jack Russell terrier may take some time to recover after it caught fire running through an abandoned fire at a Westport beach.

Richard Hall took 12-year-old Fitz to the town's North Beach yesterday when the dog took off and ran through smouldering driftwood.

He heard Fitz yelp and realising he was burning. He ran into the driftwood to retrieve him.

"He bit me on the hand, which I can only assume was because of the pain, so I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with my other hand and took him down to the sea."

Buller Vets veterinarian Antonia Lawrence said Fitz had been in shock, and suffered nasty burns on his nose, chest and legs. He was discharged yesterday but would require treatment over the next two weeks for the burns to heal.

"They are very severe injuries which potentially could have killed him."

Mr Hall said although some pads on his paws were missing, Fitz could still walk, but had not eaten since the incident.

"He's a running-around dog, but now he just sits under the table and stays quiet."

Mr Hall often came across abandoned fires at North Beach. People should fully extinguish the fires, he said.

"It could have been a small child."

- NZPA