DEATH OF LOYAL FOXTERRIER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 75, 21 December 1934, Page 10

DEATH OF LOYAL FOXTERRIER

“Bill’s” Service to City A man Idst a loyal little friend, and the city of Wellington a keen volunteer employee yesterday morning when a miotor-car killed a dog in lower Cuba Street. The dog was “Bill,” the pet and constant companion of Mr. T. W. •Leslie, custodian of the Town Hall. Nearly live years ago Mr. Leslie obtained Bill-Mhen a . threwvceks-old puppy—partly as a companion and partly in the hope of ridding the Town Hall of rats. Bill fulfilled both functions perfectly. A purebred, fox terrier, he developed into an excellent ratter, and lived to become perhaps’ the Ibest-known dog in Wellington. By clearing rodents from the big building, for wliich' his master is responsible, ■Bill performed u useful service to the city, arid incidentally saved the council some expense.

When off duty- Bill was Seldom far •from ’Mr. Leslie’s side, and the lively little animal was as familiar a figure at sports gatherings as was “Dorrlc” Leslie himself.

“It. wns like losing a member of the 'family,” -Mr. Leslie said yesterday. “Bill and I were golng over for a morning swim a Tittle after six. A car got him by the' trees near the Town Hall, Yes, he was knocked straight out. I can tell you I’ve had a pretty miserable day. You get to love a dog, and lie was a great little dog, a great ratter, too. 1 took him over to the destructor and had him cremated, and I’m not afraid to tell you that I shed a few tears for him.”