Murdered farmer's dog rescued

Ford's dog lies curled next to his body

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- The Jack Russell terrier found guarding the body of his murdered owner -- a white Zimbabwean farmer -- has found a new home.

A photograph of Squeak, lying curled on the bedspread covering the body of owner Terry Ford, was splashed across South African and European newspapers on Tuesday.

The sad image of the pet who refused to leave his master prompted calls from readers anxious to learn the dog's fate.

The Zimbabwe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said 14-year-old Squeak was taken in by a friend of the slain farmer.

"The dog would not leave the farmer's body," ZSPCA spokesman Meryl Harrison said in a statement.

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"When Ford's battered body was found under a tree, the little terrier was still at his side."

The ZSPCA added that Squeak was adopted by a friend of the murdered farmer after the body was removed.

Squeak was in Ford's vehicle when he tried to crash through a fence surrounding his homestead in Norton, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Harare, in an attempt to escape his killers early on Monday, Reuters reported Harrison as saying.

Ford was tied and shot to death. Zimbabwe police said on Tuesday they had arrested four men in connection with the murder. (Full story)

It was the first death of a white farmer since President Robert Mugabe beat challenger Morgan Tsvangirai last week in a presidential election marred by violence and charges of vote rigging.