Dog who stayed by his dead master's side is honored with a statue

Graham Nuttal, 41, and his Border Collie Ruswarp—pronounced Russup—went walking in Llandrindod Wells, Powys in the UK on January 20, 1990. When they didn’t return, a long search was mounted with posters and leaflets.

Finally after 11 weeks, on April 7, a hiker found the body of Nuttal by a mounain stream. Beside him was Ruswarp who had stood guard over his master through the months of snow and rain. The 14 year old dog was too weak to walk and had to be carried off the mountain. In spite of the best efforts of a veterinarian, Ruswarp died shortly after attending Mr. Nuttall's funeral.

To honor the dog, a bronze statue will be unveiled at Garsdale Station in North Yorkshire on the Settle to Carlisle railway line. Before their deaths Nuttall and Ruswarp had played a major part in preventing the closing of the line in the 1980’s. A petition objecting to closing the line was signed by 32,000 people and one dog. Ruswarp had his say with a paw print.

Mark Rand, chairman of the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Line, noted, “Today the railway line is thriving again. Having a statue there of Ruswarp will symbolise not only the successful fight to save the line but also the loyalty of man's best friend."

The bronze statue is set to be unveiled early next year. A happy ending to a bitter sweet story. Source

Comments

[schnoodlepooh]

dogs are the most loyal creatures on earth.

[Sling]

I love these kinds of stories.
Not the starving dog part I mean,but the whole loyalty thing.

[mattfm77]

wow, what a dog. I'm sure he was reunited with his owner.

[Mary]

This is exactly why I love animals so much..they are the definitive on what it means to love..each and every one of them.

[lola smiles]

touching. what a pooch!

[Big_Dave_T]

That's one of those stories with a sad but also happy ending. At least to know the loyalty of one brave dog will be remembered.

[jackie]

ahh jeez...make me cry why don'tcha?....you know they will make a movie out of that story...only the dog will live

[Coll]

Such loyalty and love.

[teetotaled]

Wow...so heartbreaking but touching at the same time.

[cube]

The sad tale of Nuttal & Ruswarp does have a happy ending.

[K9 Amiga]

sounds like they were an incredible duo.

[Dog Blog]

I remember hearing about that story! It is wonderful to hear the dog will be honored.

[Lindsay]

I hadn't heard of this story. It's amazing what a dog will do for its owner. Such a sad story, but it's great that a statue was made to remember the border collie.

[Chandira]

That's something a cat would just never do. Dogs blow my mind.