Brave terrier to get Britain's highest honour

George the Jack Russell terrier who defended a group of children from attack by two pitbulls in the south Taranaki town of Manaia in April is to be posthumously awarded Britain's highest award for animal bravery.

George's owner Alan Gay will be presented with the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor) Gold Medal by the British High Commissioner at Manaia town hall next month, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

The event may be filmed for the BBC.

Instituted in 2001, the medal has been awarded 15 times to "any animal that is instrumental in saving human or animal life when its own life is in jeopardy."

George was nominated by unnamed members of the Taranaki community.

PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin said the charity was deeply touched by George's bravery.

"There is no doubt George was a small dog with a lion's share of courage," she told the newspaper.

George has also received posthumous accolades from the SPCA and American Jerrell Hudman who sent the terrier his Purple Heart from the Vietnam War.

- NZPA