SHEEPDOG SAVES BOY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 17

SHEEPDOG SAVES BOY

Boar Attack On Family (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. May 12. An eight-year-old boy owes his life to a young sheepdog which battled a huge, wild boar that crashed through an unarmed Onehunga family party in the Topuni forest near Wellsford on Saturday afternoon. Only 12 months old, the dog, Brownie, leapt between the boy, David Sutherland, and the boar. Brownie grasped it and clung to its ear. An experienced pig hunter, Mr C. J. Sutherland took David and his young son. Brett, aged 6, on Saturday’s trip. Three dogs. Brownie and two pig dogs, were with them. Mr Sutherland said he left his rifle in the car. They had been in the bush all morning without seeing anything and came out of the forest along a fire break. “Suddenly, the dogs started barking and came up the hill towards us,” he said. “They were chasing a huge wild boar—one of the biggest I’ve ever seen. “I grabbed Brett and shoved him up a tree. David stood still. He was scared and white.” The boar at first appeared to miss seeing David but was within two feet of him when Brownie dived between the two. He clung to the boar’s ear, but after being gouged in the mouth by the animal's 4in tusks, Brownie let go. “The other two ' dogs jumped in too,” said Mr Sutherland, “but they could not hold the boar. Once free, it tore off into the bush." Mr Sutherland added: “I’m going back next week to get I the boar —this time I’ll have Imy gun.”