KEY POINTS:
The owner of a small dog that was mauled as it protected children from a pitbull attack says he's reluctant to get a replacement while unsecured dogs roam his town.
George, a nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, was put down after being savagely attacked by two pitbulls in the Taranaki township of Manaia on Sunday.
George was walking into town with a group of children who lived next door when the pitbulls rushed the group, heading for a four-year-old boy.
The boy's 11-year-old brother, Richard Rosewarne, said George started barking and rushed at the pitbulls as the children ran away.
George's owner, 69-year-old Alan Gay, said the pitbulls savaged George until a passing motorist intervened and managed to separate the dogs.
The first Mr Gay knew about the incident was when a local vet rang him and told him his dog had suffered horrific injuries. Mr Gay decided to have George put down.
He said today he had been receiving phonecalls non stop from relatives and media organisations since word of George's heroics got out.
"The phone has been going since about half past seven this morning. Everytime I hang up it rings again. It's worn out, I might have to get a knew one," he said.
He said as long as there were pitbulls there would be incidents like Sundays.
"I don't think it's wise for anyone to have pitbulls. They're killers, they only know one thing.
"But the little Jack Russells like George, they're harmless."
Mr Gay said unrestrained dogs had historically caused problems in Manaia and he would be reluctant to replace George.
"The town would have to clean up its wandering dogs first. If I got a puppy here he's going to couple up with the kids next door, they're going to go up town and he'll follow them and there'll be problems if there's pitbull terriers around."
He said the children next door had been fond of George and had written a note for him.
"In memory of George, we are sorry that George left in such a terrible way. He was our guardian and hero whenever we went walking and we will never forget him," the note said.
Mr Gay was told by South Taranaki District Council staff that the two pitbulls were found after the attack and the owner had admitted they had returned home on Sunday covered in blood. They were impounded awaiting destruction and the owner may be prosecuted.
The council said it intended hunting down all dangerous and unregistered dogs and neutering them.
- NZPA
