Post by lawton on May 10, 2010 19:46:59 GMT -5
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/7705535/Riot-Dog-becomes-hero-of-Athens-protests.html
'Riot Dog' becomes hero of Athens protests
A mystery dog that has apparently braved the tear gas and petrol bombs of every Athens riot since 2008 has earned national fame and become a darling of the country's radical left and anarchists.
By Matthew Day, in Warsaw
Published: 2:39PM BST 10 May 2010
Riot dog during the protests in Greece Photo: REUTERS
Riot dog on the frontlines Photo: AP
Not even clouds of gas have turned back riot dog Photo: AP
Photographs show the sandy-coloured mongrel in the thick of the action on the side of the rioters, seemingly revelling in the violent confrontations and unfazed by the missiles and pepper spray.
One picture shows the dog in a crowd of hooded and missile throwing demonstrators, and in another he joins the battle lines despite clouds of tear gas.
He now has his own Riot Dog Facebook page, with thousands of fans expressing their admiration and love for the animal.
"The dog is a real hero," writes one poster, while another claims "Pepper spray? Riot Dog eats it for breakfast."
Although the slogan "Riot Dog was here" has been sprayed on to walls and even police cars in the Greek capital, the true identity of the dog remains a mystery.
While also known as Protest Dog, some of his fans on the internet call him Kanellos, while others refer to him as Louk, after the type of sausage he apparently likes to eat.
The mystery over his identity has deepened owing to allegations that the original Riot Dog died in battle, and was replaced with a double.
Upholders of this theory refer to a one photograph showing an inert Riot Dog lying in front of police lines as evidence of the original dog's death.