Dog who stayed by dead master's side for 11 weeks honoured with statue

A devoted dog who stayed by his dead master's side for 11 weeks on a remote mountainside in winter is being recognised with a statue in his honour.

Border collie Ruswarp stuck by the side of owner Graham Nuttall after he got into trouble walking on 20 January 1990.

When Mr Nuttall, 41, did not return to Burnley in Lancashire from his day's walk in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, neighbours raised the alarm.



A week-long search found nothing, while missing person posters and leaflets also failed to produce any sightings.

But on 7 April walker David Clarke found the body by a mountain stream. Next to him was Ruswarp, who had stood guard over his master through snow and rain. The 14-year-old dog was so weak he had to be carried off the mountain. Despite being cared for by a local vet he died shortly after attending Mr Nuttall's funeral.

Now a bronze statue of Ruswarp – pronounced 'Russup' – is to be unveiled at Garsdale Station in North Yorkshire on the scenic Settle to Carlisle railway line.