Smart Animals
16 | March• 2019
You could earn cash by telling us
about the antics of unique pets or
wildlife.Turntopage5for details
on how to contribute.The ‘Lion’
And the
Mouse
ROBIN KEOWN
One hears
about dogs
historically
chasing cats
or harassing
rodents, and it
is easy to assume
that this is instinctive
behaviour. However, in
thecaseofourloyaleight-year-old
familydog,Benjy,aStaffordshire-
terriercrossandoursonJamie’spet
mouse,Caramel,astrongerinstinct
kicked in – the pack instinct.
Oursonregularlybroughtthe
tawny brown mouse out of its cage,
andthedogwouldgentlysniff
itinJamie’shandswithoutever
becoming aggressive. After about
four months of growing familiarity,
we began placing the mouse on
top of the dog’s back every time itCool Treat
VAL WILLIAMS
My younger
sister Pat and
Iwouldtake
Tri x ie, our
gorgeous little
Pomeranian-
Pekingese cross,
forawalkwhen
we did Mum’s
shopping at our local
grocery store in Brisbane.
On hot days, once we’d finished the
shopping,we’dbuyourselvesanice
cream–threepenceinthosedays–
andthenaskTrixieifshewouldalso
likeone.Immediatelyshewouldsit
upandbeg,sowe’dgetherapenny
icecream.Insteadofeatingitup
straight away, she’d race home with
itinhermouthandsitintheshade
amongthemaidenhairfernsunder
thefrontstepsofthehouseandsettle
downtoenjoyhericecream.Itwas
alwayscoolunderthereandshe
must have realised that this leafy
spot stopped the ice cream from
melting, so it would last longer. Trixie
wasabeautiful,much-loved and
clever little dog.
At home or on the move, these family pets continue to impress