A Jack Russell Terrier Was a Hero.

Tue May 8, 2:53 AM ET., WELLINGTON (AFP)

Nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier, George, is being honored with a posthumous bravery medal for saving five New Zealand children from an attack by two pitbulls.

The medal from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) comes after US Vietnam veteran Jerrell Hudman said he was sending his Purple Heart medal to George's owner after hearing of the dog's bravery.

George, who had a heart problem, won fame after defending five children from the pitbulls in the small North Island town of Manaia a week and a half ago. The two pitbulls rushed at the five children on the street, prompting George to charge the much larger dogs as the children escaped.

The Jack Russell was badly mauled by the two pitbulls and later had to be put down because of his extensive injuries. The two pitbulls were also put down.

The SPCA medal is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.

"George was a very brave little dog who almost certainly prevented severe injury, if not death, to at least one of the children," SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said.

"It's truly tragic that he paid with his own life for his instinctive act of courage."

Hudman, 58, of Austin, Texas was a US Marine for 30 years and said he decided to send his Purple Heart to George's owner Alan Gay after reading the news on the Internet because the dog was "a little warrior".

The Purple Heart is awarded to those killed or injured fighting for the US military.

Your Dog's Diet

Do you know what kinds of food to allow your dog to eat? Surely, you are not having him try to survive on table scraps only!!

Things that humans eat or use may be toxic to Fido. Even your favorite, chocolate, can be harmful to him. Non-food items should also be out of reach for man's best friend.

Click HERE for information on bad things to use for doggy's nourishment. Be careful, also, about overfeeding this good friend of yours.

Click below for a good doggy diet information book.

Dog Food

Cleaning Up After Puppy Poops

Oops, the dog peed at the wrong place again. What can you do about it? How do you clean up the mess, whether it is wet or semi-solid refuse?

Have you ever wondered why after you have spent hours of cleaning your carpet, your dog still returns to the same spot on the carpet to urinate and/or defecate?

Do you know what is the most effective ways of ensuring successful removal of your pet odors and stains in your home?

Click on the HERE for the answer.

There is no need to live with bad doggy odors or embarrassing piles in your own home.

Amusing Dog Photos

How about seeing some cute dog pictures for a change of pace?

Click here to see a few.

Taco Bell dog in a cup

We all like the Taco Bell dog when we see it in a commercial. Some people even choose one simply because it is cute on TV. This is a special dog for special kinds of people, however. It is not for everyone.

They used to be advertised as a dog that fits into a teacup. Small ones actually do fit into a cup as the picture above shows. They sometimes are a bit to large for a cup, though.

These dogs are short-tempered and do not like other breeds of dogs. If you have a dog already, do not buy a Chihuahua unless your present dog is of that breed. The little Chihuahua will challenge even very large dogs and get the worst end of any fight that may break out. Their bark is bigger than their bite.

Older people living in a small apartment will enjoy the Chihuahua but will find that the dog tends to try to set the rules, even choosing a favorite chair for itself, even the owner's chair. This breed of dogs tends to manipulate even its owner many times. This is not a dog for small children as its temperament does not make allowance for childish behavior.

We usually think of this dog as looking like the Taco Bell dog. That dog is a short-haired Chihuahua. There are long-haired Chihuahua's also. The long-haired variety does not have the 'shakes' as badly as the short-haired ones since it retains its body heat better. See the photo here of the long-haired Chihuahua.
They usually weigh between two and six pounds when full-grown. Coloring varies a lot. Their ears tend to look like those of a terrier, usually looking alert and upright. Much like a human baby, the Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their heads. Sometimes it does not completely close so a blow to the head could be fatal, even to an adult Chihuahua.

Click here for more detailed information on this frisky and sassy teeny breed of dog. There is a lot to learn about them.

Do you know your Chihuahua well? Read this book to find out.

The Everything Chihuahua Book