Who am I?

If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things ... then you are probably the family dog!

And for the dog who can recognise himself/herself in the poem above, sent in by a reader, what better way to end the day than a home-cooked meal?

Boiled beef and pasta

200g (7ozs) boiled beef
240g (8-9ozs) boiled pasta
2 tablespoons oats or wheat flakes
Vegetables to taste. If you have no vegetables available use dandelion or nettle leaves, or lettuce.
Boil the beef and pasta separately. Put the oats into a bowl and pour a little hot stock over them first and leave to soak for at least 5 minutes. Then add all other ingredients and stir together.
Your dog will love it.

Help to stop the killing

Dogaid International reports that dog fur, leather and skin products are being manufactured in countries such as Korea and sold to retailers in Europe, USA, UK, Australia and probably even New Zealand under false names to prevent recognition and subsequent rejection in trading countries.

Names that dog fur is sold under are: Gae-wolf, Asian Wolf, Asiatic Raccoon, China wolf, Corsac fox, Goupee, Gubi, Pommern Wolf, Loup d' Asie, Asian Jackal, Dogue de Chine, and Sobaki.

Dog leather is sold under the names: Mountain Goat skin, Sakon Makhon lamb, Kou pi, Gou pi. Dog skin plasters are sold in Chinatowns as a cure for rheumatism. Some pet shop products such as a thin, pale type of dog chew bone are also made of dog skin.

Dogaid asks (and I am sure we do not need to be asked a second time) that if any readers notice products with the given names, please boycott the offending shop and let the management know exactly why! It is only when ignorant westerners stop buying dog products that the retailers will also stop buying them and the practice will stop.

STOP PRESS: I have today received a warning notice from three sources - it seems that Chinese and Korean 'agents' are scouring New Zealand at the moment for samoyeds - their local people apparently love the pure white fur and it is in demand. Please be suspicious if you are contacted suddenly by anyone, Asian or not, asking if you have samoyeds for sale. They would end their life on the fur trade chain!