Here's this fortnight's top story as voted on our website - 4 March 2010

A heroic dog

When I was 12 years old, I used to do a paper run around my local area. Since I liked having afternoons to myself after school, I used to wake up at 6 am each morning to do my paper run before school. This was perfectly safe during the warmer months, but when it was winter, it was always very, very dark at that time. Aside from being afraid of possible strangers, I would be most afraid of the many stray and vicious dogs that would roam the streets.

One morning, as I entered one particular street which was renowned for having several stray dogs, I heard the sound of paw prints running up behind me. I froze to the spot, silently praying that I would not be eaten by what sounded like a huge dog pounding the pavement behind me. However, the dog just ran a few steps ahead of me, stopped, and waited for me to start walking again. As I started walking, this strange black dog with big brown eyes started to walk ahead of me. Whenever I stopped at a letterbox, the dog would stop, turn to look at me and then carry on walking once I started again. This continued for my entire paper run, until I reached home. The dog then walked me to the door, watched me go inside and then trotted off happily down the street.

From that day on, each morning when I woke to do my paper run (about 4-5 mornings a week), I would be greeted by this big, black dog, who would walk me around the streets whilst I did my job, and then deliver me safely back home.

One particular morning, while I and this dog (whom I called Brendon) were going about our business, walking and delivering mail to letterboxes, I caught sight of an American pit bull, wandering around someone’s front garden. I immediately froze, and became too afraid to go near the house. Brendon seemed to sense my fear, and came and walked close by my side, his body grazing the top of my thigh as we walked, him gently coaxing me forward to continue my paper round.

When we reached the house where the pit bull was sniffing around, the dog started to run towards me. Brendon immediately stood in front of me, using his body as a shield. He assumed an attack position, and bared his teeth at the dog. He started to growl. The pit bull then changed his mind and ran away.

I continued the paper run for another 4 years, until I was 16. I can honestly say that during those years, Brendon was always by my side as we walked together on my paper run. When I gave it up, I never saw Brendon again. I truly believe that Brendon was my guardian angel, sent to protect a young girl as she went about her duties, trying to earn some pocket money. I will always remember him, and always be grateful for the protection he gave me for all those years.

True story by Joanna Taylor of New Zealand