Dog therapists. Good Stuff.

Today’s ‘Positive and Optimistic Sunday’. On Farmdoc’s Blog from time to time I’ve written about my dog: Pete the Maremma. ‘His disposition’s more amiable than that of many people I know [1]’. Indeed last 3 July he featured as number 3 on my comfort list: ‘He’s just so affectionate. That is, if you’re a human and not a wallaby or a possum. Talk about a man’s best friend… [2]’. The bond between dog and person can be a joy to behold. And beneficial to both. Examples abound. Here’s one: an article in the 18 February Tasmanian Country [3]. It’s a touching story. I wasn’t previously aware of the Delta Society. Its website says ‘The Society’s mission is to promote and facilitate positive interaction between people and companion animals [4]…(and)… Currently it pursues this mission through three core projects: the Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services [5], the Delta Dog Safe Program [6] and the Delta Therapy Dogs Program [7]. I’d love Petey and me to be Delta volunteers. But I won’t have the time until I stop working. And by then Pete’ll be too old – Delta specifies a maximum dog age of 10, and Pete’s now 8¼. Anyway I’m sending Delta a donation to aid its terrific work. Dog therapists. Good stuff. How positive and optimistic is that.

Post title change, Petey's prize, State election

This is Farmdoc’s Blog 700th post. Until today, I’ve titled the posts numerically, e.g. farmdoc’s blog post number 699. Seemingly due to a Blogger idiosyncrasy, this titling prevents Farmdoc’s Blog appearing in blogrolls, and also in the Reading List on the Dashboard page of the blogs that are followers of Farmdoc’s Blog. So starting today, I’m giving each post a unique title. I hope this cures the mischief. Time will tell.

Last 25 February on her (non public) blog, darling Indigo ran a random giveaway. The prizes were hair jewels and Hama bead items. There were 22 entries. On 28 February Indi announced four winners. Numero uno was Petey Boy. Last week in Daylesford Indi gave me Petey’s prize. Yesterday I affixed it to his enclosure’s gatepost. As the photograph shows, he was mildly interested. I think he’d have been more pleased if the prize was edible, though.

Yesterday an election was held for the lower house of the Tasmanian parliament. With a population of only 0.5M, Tasmania’s self-evidently over-governed via national, state and local/municipal governments. Anyway in my electorate of Lyons there were no candidates I felt able to vote for. So I cast an informal ballot. I’m unsure if this was a copout. I appreciate suffrage is a privilege that shouldn’t be abused. But as an ethical man, I can only be guided by my principles and conscience. (As I write, a hung parliament’s the certain outcome. So political fun times lie ahead, methinks. Ho hum.)