This dog really

By Emma Sun
The Pakenham resident bought a day-old chicken three weeks ago to keep her 14-year-old canine pal Minty company.
“I used to take her everywhere in the car with me but she’s now got incontinence so I can’t do that anymore,” Margaret said.
“I feel that it’s not fair to have an animal 24/7 on its own in a small backyard, it’s cruel, and I take her for a walk everyday, but that’s still not enough. I thought she needs company, so I bought a chicken.”
Minty, a blue heeler cross, usually sleeps on a mat and when the chicken first came, the two slept separately and didn’t really socialise.
However, it didn’t take long before Margaret noticed the two bonding.
“About a week ago, I looked out and the dog was on the bed and the chicken was standing on the concrete next to her but not on the bed,” she said.
“The next day I looked out and the chicken was on the bed with the dog, and the next day, the chicken was on the bed and the dog was on the concrete – the dog got kicked off!”
She said the two often snuggled together to sleep and ate together as well.
“The chicken loves the dog and the dog doesn’t care.”
Margaret has always loved animals and picked Minty from the Pearcedale RSPCA.
“She was three years old and on death row. I didn’t go for a pretty face, I went for her because she was so young and there was no need to put her down.”
She is a passionate animal advocate who believes all animals deserve to be treated fairly and with respect.
She said it was for that reason that she didn’t get another dog or a cat, as her age and her financial situation wouldn’t allow for her to look after both animals properly.
“I can’t afford a cat and I think that unless you can afford to raise an animal, you don’t deserve it.
“My yard is too small and I don’t want to get another animal, because at my age, it wouldn’t be fair – if something happens to me, who’s going to want the animal?
“I just hope it doesn’t turn into a rooster – I’ll soon find out if it starts crowing and wakes up the neighbours.”
The pair provide more than enough entertainment value for Margaret, who loves to spend all her time watching them play around.
“They make my day, I look forward to getting up every day knowing they’re there and everything’s fine,” she said.
“They say laughter is the best medicine and believe me, I’ve had laughs out of these two and that keeps me going.”