Dog Dies after Saving Lives of 5 Children from Pit Bulls
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George, a 9 year old Jack Russell Terrier, saved 5 children from a vicious pair pit bulls, but was so severely mauled in the attack that it had to be put down, according to a New Zealand report.
11 year old Richard Rosewarne of Manaia said the pit bulls came up behind them and went after his 4 year old brother Darryl Wilson, when George jumped between them.
“These two pit bulls 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” owner Alan Gay said to the Taranaki Daily News. “These pitbulls should be banned. They’re killers and it comes from them being bred for fighting.”
“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.”
“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.” Said Rosewarne. “We ran off crying and some people saw what was happening and rescued George.”
The dogs that killed George were covered in his blood when they returned home, and were held in a local pound where they were to be destroyed. Their owner was said to face possible prosecution, reported USA Today.
The ASPCA writes that Pit Bulls were genetically selected for their fighting prowess. Pit Bulls can easily be encouraged to be aggressive toward other dogs. It takes less to arouse a pit bull than many other breeds to be aggressive toward other dogs.

Photo Novo Abrantas
The objective of dogfights between dogs of average breeds is for one dog to walk away the victor with little or no bloodshed. They engage in behavior designed to intimidate their opponent such as growling and snarling. Bites during a fight are typically delivered to only cause pain and not necessarily to inflict serious injury.
But Pit Bulls have been selected to behave quite the opposite during fights. They rarely give any warning prior to aggressive behavior and seldom back down against an opponent. They’re most often involved in fights ending in injury, telling that a pit bull’s aggression more closely resembles predatory behavior.
Pit Bulls are extremely tenacious and stubborn. They easily become highly aroused and often have little control over their behavior if they haven’t been trained to inhibit their impulses. They have a reputation for being more ‘mouthy’ and bite harder in play than other breeds. They’re also somewhat impervious to pain. Pit Bulls are now notorious for redirecting aggression from a dog to any person who attempts to break up a fight.
But the ASPCA states that a well-bred, well-socialized, and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable.
Tags:animal animals. dogfight dog dogfights dogs fights Jack Russell Terrier pit bull pitbull











oh how tragic Deborah !!!!
My Grandparents had a foxy called trixie…and she walked the equivalent of 60 km…….one weekend to get home…..we were dogsitting her and she disappeared…..a couple of days later she was back with my grandparents…that’s what I call loyalty……
I have nothing good to say about pit bulls I’m afraid
AT least it was a happy ending Kim. I’ve heard of accounts like that before.
Yes, I’ve also heard some horrific stories and watched documentaries on the ruthlessness and tragedy that pit bulls have been known for.
i don`t know why people can`t take care of there dogs ??? i real hear a lot of times about dog attacking children. and this always the same kind of dogs.
Quite often it is pit bulls, Hoto, although that’s not always the case. And most oten the dogs are off-leash in designated parks, or have gotten loose from their yards.
I watched a horrifying documentary on pit bulls a few years ago. The Dog Pound was called in over a pit bull, and there was a filming group on location. The owner had trained the pit bill be volatile and attack on command. You could hear her from inside her house yelling at the dog to attack the woman from the dog pound, which it proceeded to do. Then she came out and watched the attack and kept yelling to encourage it. It was utterly gruesome.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/153924651
This is an older story about little brave George that always needs promotion as New Zealand has a problem with dangerous dogs. Thanks for adding it into your blog!
Jaytala New Zealand
I know for sure that ASPCA is right. The problem with pit bulls is that people (some people) train them for fight, taking advantage of the natural “killer instinct” they were initially created for. Let’s not forget that this is not a natural breed, but a mongrel of sorts. As a matter of fact, no dog is pure breed… They all have a common ancestor. Pit bulls just happen to be more recent.
Now, back to the story: the news is devastating for the Red Dog team. We love Jack Russells – our own mascot, Yardley, is a Jack Russell. But we also know that Jack Russels would fight any dog, for any reason. It’s in their nature. It’s happy that natural instinct lead to a dog saving the lives of children, but let’s be honest about this: the dog didn’t know what he was doing.
Thanks Jaytala
True Mihaela, they’re not an actual pure breed. I wasn’t aware that Jack Russells were natural fighters. So in essence, it’s sort of a tale that the end justifies the means, other than the loss of George’s life, of course.
Yeah, it’s sad he died… But things like this happen when little guys try to fight the giants. We are not all Davids facing Goliaths are we? He he…
No, but many small dogs don’t seem to grasp the concept that they’re not David
that is becuase the pits were trained to do that i have 20 pits and they never ever hert me!!
so pits are ggggoooodddd!!!!!!!!!!!
i have had pit bulls my whole life, they had never even tried to fight another dog, pit bulls love peole and kids, great dog to have with kids! pit bulls as long as in a normal type home will not attack anybody or any other dog. i will always have pit bulls and no matter what people say about them, its the owner that makes a dog bad no matter what the breed is. i have a friend with a bichon and that dog bites people all the time, my pit bulls have never! so all i have to say is that people who fear the dog need not to, they are kind loyal and fun loving dogs
Yes, the owners of any dog are a major factor in their behavior, David. Good to hear that you’ve had all positive experiences with your pit bulls.
That is a really sad story and I’m sorry to hear about the loss of the dog, but what’s even more amazing to me is the fact that people are STILL BLAMING THE DOGS even though it’s quite evident that the OWNERS are the ones to blame for not being responsible enough to own a breed that requires a bit more attention than your average pat on the head. I have 10 pit bulls, all VERY well socialized and well behaved. I have NEVER, not one time ever had any of my dogs vicously attack another dog or person for that matter. IT IS THE OWNER AND HOW YOU RAISE THESE ANIMALS…and let’s be honest here, these dogs would not be used for search and rescue, seeing eye dogs, visting retirement homes, etc if they were the monsters people keep making them out to be. They are sweet, loyal and protective of their family and I’m sorry there are so many ignorant minded people that refuse to hear the truth about these dogs because of the morons who’s dogs you constantly see portrayed on the news. If you don’t raise the dog right, they are JUST LIKE KIDS, they are going to act out, whether that be aggression or some other form but you have to care enough about your animals to want better for them by training them or socializing them or working with them when you first notice an issue. It’s pathetic the people that walk around with these poor dogs just using them as some kind of status symbol instead of the truly loving family dogs they are. I could care less about these people that say “BAN THE DOG” that is about the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard in my life. Basically what you’re saying is if someone committed murder, we should anhilate the entire race huh? Well….that’s exactly what you are saying about these dogs and you are really missing out on the great animals they truly are!
Elisa
I am sad to hear about the dog and children but i own a pit bill, there is not a mean bone in my dog’s body. It all depends on the owner of the pit bull. just like kids they are raised by the way the parents teach them
Elisa and Jennifer, thanks for your comments. It’s great to hear more stories from pitbull owners. I agree wholeheartedly that an owner plays the major role in a dog’s behavior.
pits are not the only dogs that can turn on ppl other dogs do it too and you cant blame what the pitt did he was either trained to do so or the kids were somewhere they wernt supposed to be. blame the deed not the breed
Very true, Elizabeth. “Blame the deed, not the breed,” well said.
pit bulls are the nicest dogs in the world, just cause some people train them to be bad doesnt mean they are all bad!! almost every single breed of dog has killed a human beign, from pomeranin’s to dalmation’s, so dont even think pitbulls are the only ones capable of this!! you people only see the surface, so go dig up some info before you go judging my one year olds pitbull, or many others like him. dissliking a dog for it’d sertan breed just cause there are some bad apples, is the same thing as hating someone for there skin color!!!
While many of the fierce animal bites have been reported to be by pit bulls, it’s very true that there are many other breeds that have also done so.
Its a very sad story as we all had said! I just cant bare to read people talking so badly about a pitbull when most of them are not well educated on the breed at all. Most people are closed minded and fall into the media calling these dogs mean and man eaters and whatever other bs they can come up with! People dont take the time to see its not the pitbull that wrong and in most cases the pitbull itself is the VICTIM! The humans are the problem the unlovable irresponsible cold hearted owners of the pitbulls are the problem! The pitbull breed is very smart and very loyale and all they care about is pleasing there master/s therefor if they are trained to be aggresive or fight they think its right because its pleasing there master! trained and nourished with love has the same affect! So for those who think they know about the breed take a minute to be independent and do some research before you start throwing negative comments!
This article greatly disgusts me. To judge a dog by its breed is no different than judging a person by race. It is sadly true that some pitbulls are used for fighting. However, there are also many, many well bred pitbulls who make loving family pets. If you delve into some of the most recent research, you will find that pitbulls are highly intelligent and easily trained. Unfortunately, it is this training ability that makes them good “fighters.” People TRAIN these dogs to fight; they are not born that way. In fact, in temperament tests, pitbulls scored better than several breeds, including german shepherd dogs, border collies, and even beagles. I am a Registered Veterinary Technician, and I have worked in several veterinary hospitals. I have seen more aggressive labs and chihuahuas than I have seen aggressive pit bulls. The only reason you hear more about pitbull incidents in the news is because of media hype. There are plenty of cases of other breeds inflicting harm on humans and other animals.
i would have to say im very sorry for the dog getting killed but pitbulls are usally very friendly and social dogs. i have 2 one male and a female. we took our male cash when he was young to a trainer and he gave us a little information about the pitbull breed.
A lot of people are scared of pitbull because the are ignorant to the breed, and im sure if the actually got to know a pitbull there opinions would change.
I MEAN DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THESE DOGS WANT TO FIGHT EACH OTHER????
I`m willing to bet that they are not pure-bred pitbulls.
Very often pit bulls take the wrap for other dogs attacking people.
What sells more papers.
1.”Killer Maltese Poodle Mauls Child”
2.”Killer PitBull Mauls Child”
Well said, Doug.
This article is very disturbing to me, I can not believe that people still buy into the Pit Bull hype. I have two wonderful pits that we rescued. We also have two jack russell’s and they all live in harmony. I am a professional pet groomer and over the 30+ years I have been grooming I have been bitten by countless numbers of small dogs with very bad attitudes, If they were bigger they would be a danger to the public, but like Doug said you don’t hear much about the little dogs that bite children in the face and so on. Also like he states pits take the rap for other types of dogs that fit the Bully description but in fact could be any type of dog. I could go on and on forever but it seems no one wants to hear the truth they want to believe the nonsense they hear. Because of these people many dogs die every day for no reason other than they look like a particular type of dog.
did you know that about 20,000 kids die from their own mother per year and only 3 people per year die from a pit bull attack. do you go around banning mothers and killing them off?
for all those people that think banning all pit bulls is a good idea, you are stupid and inconsiderate and hypocrits.
that is like saying once we kill off a certain race that all crime will stop, that makes you no better then hitler and the KKK.
if you have had a pit bull you will understand that they are a loving, smart, and gental animals.
my pit bull was my best friend he was put to sleep by people like you who thought that getting rid of him was a good idea. he had never bitten anything excpet for his chew toy, but he was still a dangerous animal because he defended himself against a person who had thrown glass in his face and beat him in the ribs and broke two of his legs. my dog was put to sleep because he tried to defend me and himself. and that is because people like you hypocritical jerks thought that he was dangerous and didnt deserve to live after saving my life.
What a heartbreaking story, I’m so sorry for your loss of your best friend
i own a pitt bull and I have to tell you that with the right training and letting them play with kids, kitty’s, and adults. He has been a joy. He is happy to see anybody. he plays with everybody. he has never showed one sign that he would hurt anybody. my Leo is my heart and when my husband is not home he knows we have a good dog at home who loves our family and will protect it. If no danger appears he wants you to pet him.
I can certainly understand the comfort in knowing that you have a loved pet that would protect you if ever the case arose, Dawn.
We had a German Sheppard that had training as a police dog prior to becoming part of our family. I used to go on deliveries for our business into the sticks and remote areas, and would bring him along with me. It was a great comfort, especially when some men would ask me to go for a drink with them. All I had to do was lower the window in the back for my dog and they’d back off very quickly. He didn’t have to growl or anything, just his presence was enough
This kills me because Like The ASPCA said “Pit bulls that are well-Trained well-socialized well-bred are the most delightful and intelligent and gentle dogs imaginable”. This is a very ture statment accourding to the NATIONAL CAININE RESEARCH INSTITUE In 2006, 97% of the fatal attacks were the result of one or more of these reckless or criminal ownership practices. If any dog is not trained socialized it will be an aggresive dog. The media doesn’t tell you abaout all the other dog attacts.
August 18, 2007 – A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog was shot after charging the officers. This incident was reported in one article and only in the local paper.
August 19, 2007 – A 16-month old child received fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed breed dog. This attack was reported two times by the local paper only.
August 20, 2007 – A 6-year-old boy was hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving severe bites to the head by a medium-sized mixed breed dog. This attack was reported in one article and only in the local paper.
August 21, 2007 – A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her home by two Pit bulls and was hospitalized with severe injuries.
This attack was reported in over two hundred and thirty articles in national and international newspapers, as well as major television news networks, including CNN, MSNBC and FOX.
“Clearly a fatal dog attack by an unremarkable breed is not as newsworthy as a non-fatal attack by a Pit bull” says Karen Delise, researcher for the National Canine Research Council.
People routinely cite media coverage as “proof” that pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs. Costly and ineffective public policy decisions are being made on the basis of such “proof”. While this biased reporting is not only lethal to an entire population of dogs; sensationalized media coverage endangers the public by misleading them about the real factors in canine aggression.
So is it the Dog or the OWNER.. I say the bad owners, and they should be the one that is punished for these attacks not the dogs.Because they trained the dog to be aggresive.
Caramon
one day i went to my friends house and her nieghbor found a pitbull puppy in tha ditch. i felt so sorry for her (tha puppy) so i took it home wit me and took care of her. but my problem is that i am going to have to bring her to tha vet soon. and i live in welsh,louisiana a place where there illegal! when growing up the only dog i had was pits, none ever tried to do harm. i am trying as hard as i can to fight for her, to keep her. i love this one so much and she loves me to. she shows me that she loves me by the way she protects me from people.
That’s very sad and cruel to abandon any creature like that Makenzie, and good of you to take her in. I had never known that some states ban pit bulls before, I’m not really sure what the answer would be for you. Perhaps she could be transferred to a shelter in another state where they’re legal and placed up for adoption? I know that’s far from the answer you’re looking for, but I really don’t know how to help in your circumstance.
yea. pitbulls are cool and fun. and dont make fun of the kkk.
yea pitbulls are fun and cool. and dont make fun of the kkk.
aw….. that is a sad story i am so so sad i almost started 2 cry when i heard that story
god bless you all….
i love pit bull’s
I think this is stupid all you ever hear about in the news is Pitt Bulls attacking kids it never tells you what the kids did to make the dog mad and of course they are going to say they didn’t do anything because saying yeah I was throwing rocks at the dog would get them in trouble. I have 3 Pitts in my yard now and plan on getting more I also have 2 children and both of my girls LOVE MY PITTS. My 3 year old can go up to my full grown Pitt and sit on his back and he does nothing he loves both of my children and has never showed any aggression towards any person of other dog. In fact two of my Pitts are babies and my full grown Pitt watches over the babies if he thinks they need something he lets us know and he will roll over on his belly and let the babies run all over him and he doesn’t bite snap or anything out of the way. If you are all about banning something how about banning people with closed minds and people who are to stupid to know how to properly care for one of Gods beautiful creations. I think it is so funny that when I show off pics of my dogs people are like “oh their so cute what kind of dog are they” then I tell them and it all changes “oh they are ugly dogs so mean and blah blah blah BS” Dogs can’t ban Humans but I tell you what if they could everyone that has ever MADE them fight and everyone that has put them down without knowing them would be banned. That means each and everyone on here that has something bad to say about the Breed in general. As for the dogs that killed the little dog yes they should be put down because apparently their OWNER doesn’t know how to properly care for them and it is sad for the dogs but it is something that has to be done. PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pitbulls are nto mean dogs its just their owners so not to be rude i know your brothe couldve gotten killed but dont judge the breed those pitbulls were just abused and mis treated by asshole people that cant do anything but be neglectful to animals im happy he didnt get killed but sorry for your dog!
You people listen to the news and belive everything that they say i have a male pit and he wouldnt hurt a fucking fly and iam bout to get 2 more female people have to treat this dogs right and they are the best dog you could ever ask for have you have watched the dog wisper his main dog is a pit.the fucking news makes everything sound so bad when it probally wasn’y bad at all.own one and then judge them OMFG theres a pit bull watch out u fucking chicken shits.
In the hands of ignorant breeders, the gentle, affectionate qualities that were so crucial to the old-time breeders also went out the window. You began to see idiotic ads in the classified section announcing “Pitbull pups for sale. Big-boned. Big heads. Excellent attack dogs. No papers. $250″ From the old-time breeders’ point of view, the gentle qualities were an absolutely indispensable safety precaution to be bred into a fighting dog, since no dog could be fought if it couldn’t be safely handled by its owner during a pit contest. These breeders bred for a type that was extremely easy-going and docile around people and would NEVER think of biting a friendly hand, even amid the fury of a fight.
Those stupid assas,in the good old USA,who forced legislation in order to ban dogfighting have now created a world wide problem as far as the breed goes. Why didn`t they just leave them alone? Ther were only a handfull of them anyway!
They easily become highly aroused and often have little control over their behavior if they haven’t been trained to inhibit their impulses. They have a reputation for being more ‘mouthy’ and bite harder in play than other breeds.
pitbull´s last blog ..Türk Çoban Köpekleri
This is a very heroic and tragic story. My heart goes to George for his courage and instinct to protect the children. The local government there should have at least given George some sort of recognition for his heroism don’t you think?
listen this is horrible i don’t care what you people say about pit bulls they are some of the most loving dogs in the world. you people seem to not understand its not the pit bull that does wrong is the owner that made them that way. Its not there fault they don’t understand wrong from right. you just assume they are bad nature because PEOPLE train them to fight.
Owners should be responsible to train there dogs properly and keep them under control.