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He'd Have Fought to Save Jack



chrisong
Doggyman

Sep 12, 2005, 8:54 PM


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He'd Have Fought to Save Jack

Extracted from DAILY MIRROR 23 August 2005
By Rod Chayton

FARMER Mick Boffey would have thought nothing of risking his life to save the dog he took in as a stray, his friends and family said that night.

Border terrier cross Jack was his constant companion when he set out every morning for the job he loved.

Derek Guy, co-owner of Mick’s local pub The Pheasant, said:” He loved that dog so much.”

“All his friends and everyone at the farm have been saying all day is that he did it for Jack.”

Mick, 61, was killed trying to block the path of two men stealing the Land Rover in which he’s left Jack.

Mr Guy said:” You hear of owners who put themselves at risk by jumping into a river to save their dog. We think that Mick’s death is that sort of tragedy. I am sure he would not have bothered so much if it was just losing the Land Rover.”

Mick’s son William, 40, said yesterday:” Every day he would take his faithful friend Jack to work. He was always there, wherever he went, in his tractor, combine, wherever.”

Mick, grandfather to five, had been inspecting a field then went back to the farm to check some grain. He left the keys in the 4X4 with the dog while he popped into the office.

Police, who have launched a murder hunt, said a silver saloon was also seen around the yard about the time.

They are looking for two white men aged 25 and 29 in connection with Mick’s death on Saturday morning in Withybrook, near Rugby.

William said:” It is beyond words to describe how we will miss him. We just hope these people are caught.”

The thieves dumped the Land Rover in a church car park 10 minutes after taking it. They left Jack at the farm before getting away.

Wife Bernice, 63, with whom Mick had three children William, Micky, 36 and Jane, 38, said:” Mick worked tirelessly 365 days a year because farming was his whole life.”

“He was one of the nicest men you could wish to meet and he did not have a malicious born in his body.”

Locals said he was kind, caring and devoted to his family. One said he had a heart of gold and who would deliver baking potatoes from his farm to old people in the village.

Friend Stan Brandrick, 62 said:” Mick’s death is an absolute tragedy. He was a gentleman.”

A friend said last night that Jack was pining for Mick. “He cannot understand where his master has gone. We were trying to console Jack but he is looking for Mick everywhere. It’s heartbreaking.”