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A Pair of Billy the Rat Catcher

 

Stock No: 001303

 

Height: 6 Inches / 15 cm

 

Reference: Harding Book 3, Page 256, Fig 2810

 

A very rare and desirable true pair of Scottish terriers standing on all fours wearing collars, a number of dead rats at their feet. These dogs are a reputed version of ‘Billy the Rat Catcher” or of representing the old traditional sport of ‘Rat Baiting’. The story goes, ‘Billy the Rat Catcher’ gained his reputation by killing 100 rats in under 6 minutes. Setting dogs against a number of rats in a pit was a popular poor man’s sport in the 1800’s. Both figures have professional invisible repairs to the tails, c1850’s.