Taranaki hero dog inspires Swedish songsters
By RICHARD WOODD - Taranaki Daily News | Saturday, 13 December 2008DOG GEORGE: George the Jack Russell terrier, who gave his life to save children from marauding pit bulls, has been immortalised in song by a Swedish pop band.
Remember George the heroic Jack Russell terrier who gave his life last year at Manaia protecting children from savage pit bulls?
He's been immortalised in bronze, received a posthumous SPCA bravery award, and a Vietnam vet's Purple Heart medal.
Now a Swedish pop group, the Talkabouts, have written and recorded a song about the brave little dog.
Titled Dog George, it's on their first album, Storytellers, released this month.
George, who lived with Alan Gay, was out walking with the kids next door on Sunday, April 29, when two pit bulls menaced them.
George tried to fend them off but was so badly injured he had to be put down by a vet. Band leader Mikael Ranggard was in Australia when the dramatic story of George's last stand flashed around the world.
He has a "hard-nosed" Jack Russell himself, named Zigge. "The story really moved me. Zigge would probably do the same for me and my family if we were threatened," he said.
They wrote the song in a sauna at Mikael's cottage on the Bothnian Sea, up near the Arctic Circle, drinking beer and with Zigge for inspiration.
"I told the story, we dwelled over Zigge's ability to defend us, we had a guitar and a harmonica and that was that. Zigge is unique even by Swedish standards. He loves the sauna."
Alan, who is now 71, heard the song yesterday, and was moved to tears as he listened to it yesterday.
"I still miss George a wee bit, he's not there in the mornings," Mr Gay said. "I haven't really thought about another dog because I don't like dogs that aren't trained and that takes me a lot of time.
"George was well trained, he knew he wasn't allowed uptown on his own, that's why he was with those kids."
He said he'd love to meet the Talkabouts if they ever get to New Zealand. And that is being talked about, says Mikael Ranggard.
• Blind date for loveless lions
• China's goodwill pandas arrive in Taiwan
• Marineland re-opens
• Dolphin too friendly for her own good
• Snowball home for Christmas
• Baby monkey put down after family tiff
• Who's the daddy?
• It's a dog's life at airport hotel
• Youth and experience put to test
• Places for pets fully booked
• Purrfect additions to cheetah pack
• Dwarf rabbit orphans taken in by new mum
• Don't give pets as gifts