In Jordan, a dog that had been trained by a man to carry love letters to his sweetheart was stoned to death by the girl's brother in an apparent bid to protect her honor.
On Sunday, Petra news agency said the dog, named Big Joe, was killed last Wednesday as it carried a letter from the unnamed suitor to his girlfriend asking her to marry him.
Big Joe had been trained by a family in Zarqa to carry in a pouch on its back a grocery list to the nearby fruit and vegetable store.
The trips inspired their son, who had been turned down by the girl's family three years ago because he was still a student and had no position, to train it to carry love letters to his sweetheart.
The dog would go to the girl's house, stand outside the building and bark until she came out to take the letters and read them before sending replies in the same manner.
Her brother, who had apparently been spying on her, intercepted the letter, read it and stoned the dog to death before running to warn her sister's boyfriend he would meet the same fate, the official agency added.
However, family members and friends intervened and convinced the girl's father that her suitor was a serious young man who had no ill intentions, and secured his approval for the couple to get married.
Big Joe, in the meantime, was buried last week in its owner's backyard, in a ceremony attended by the lovers, neighbors and friends. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
