A NINE-year-old Jack Russell terrier George is being honored with a posthumous bravery medal for saving five 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 in New Zealand 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.
 | |
Music Review: Martina McBride Martina McBride, "Waking Up Laughing" (RCA) Fifteen years in, Martina McBride continues to look for new challenges. With "Waking Up Laughing," the big-voiced singer produces the album by herself (as she did with her last album, "Timeless"). McBride also composes some of her own material for the first time, co-writing three songs, including the uplifting first hit, "Anyway."What she doesn't change is her preference for songs pertinent to Middle America. Mixing stories of tragedy and struggle with those of survival and renewal, the Kansas native presents 11 songs that could serve as themes for two weeks worth of Oprah. Such real-life topics are common in country music, but like Winfrey, McBride digs deeper, avoiding cliches while providing more insight and inspiration than any of her peers.On "Waking Up Laughing," McBride taps into a particularly potent mix of positive messages, and she matches these consistently outstanding songs with a seamless blend of acoustic instruments, gentle rhythms and soaring orchestrations that bank on subtlety and style.She invites another contemporary country tastemaker, Keith Urban, for a duet on "Tryin' to Find a Reason," but it's only one of many highlights. Others include the social commentary of "For These Times," the won't-be-a-victim tale of "Beautiful Again," and two love songs, "I'll Still Be Me" and "Love Land." The latter two couldn't be more different in their story lines but share a belief that humans can rise above their situations to see something good and lasting in enduring life's changes.
| |
Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez decided during an interview to talk about how his friendship with Derek Jeter has cooled.
"The reality is there's been a change in the relationship over 14 years and, hopefully, we can just put it behind us," he went on. "You go from sleeping over at somebody's house five days a week, and now you don't sleep over. It's just not that big of a deal."
Are you kidding me? Every year, before Spring Training, I read the papers, watch the news and surf the internet for the latest stories in baseball - transactions, prospects, yada yada yada. And here find myself reading about some whiney-woa-is-me-little bitch. Seriously... Are you kidding me?!?!? As much as I hate the Yankees, (and I hate them with every inch of my being), I feel bad for Derek Jeter. Jeter, who tries to keep his personal life private.
A-Rod went 1 for 14 during the post season last year. Perhaps he should be thinking of other things besides who Jeter is sleeping with.
Newer | Latest | Older