Of fishing and pet projects

Despite four-legged animals having an overwhelming majority over the two-legged variety in these parts,there happens to be peaceful co-existence between the two. Forget the Kiwi bird,it’s actually the sheep who are the national icon,while cats and dogs are treated as extended family.

Once I was directed to place in Hamilton using a pet hospital as a nearby landmark. It was a multi-coloured building with polka dot-like motifs,and a small orange car,that had caricatures painted on it,was parked on the porch. It looked more like a nursery school,but a closer look revealed that the polka dots were tiny pug-marks and the car was a cute little ambulance.

Dogs,of course,are omnipresent,but cats have their own turf. Hamilton’s Waikato newspaper gives free classified space for ‘lost or found’ felines. I spotted an ad by someone eager to own a de-sexed,lilac kitten.

But alongside,there was a sad insert announcing that a farmer was selling 300 of the 900 cows he owned,because of recession. In New Zealand,even animals are feeling the pinch of downsizing.