In August last year comedian Jimbo Bazoobi and his pet goat, Gary found themselves in trouble when Gary was nabbed by the police eating flowers in a patch of green that did not belong to the former. The police slapped a Australian $440 fine on the funnyman who took offence and challenged the police in court. The media circus that ensued was made colourful by the goat’s appearance in court, with his own lawyer to represent him. He did not testify but there was a lawyer who was more than willing to talk on his behalf.

In the end the Sydney court that heard the case decided last week that Gary, who arrived in court dressed in a colorful hat, was not guilty of vandalizing the greenery. The court also absolved Bazoobi of all charges. The comedian did not let go to chance to show off his funny bone.

“Gary’s name has been cleared of all this slander. He was simply eating and I want to thank everyone for coming down here. Gary the goat taught the cops a valuable lesson today, don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

We are glad we were not in those cop’s shoes…

Doggy therapy

WE AL KNOW that having pets around is a wonderful experience. Science has told us repeatedly that a pet dog’s presence in the house has been proven to be priceless therapy for lonely children , ageing parents and a sure-fire way to get some unconditional love.

But the medical fraternity at a Bristol, UK hospital are still debating the wisdom of the authorities in allowing a dog to be present during childbirth in the delivery room recently. When a woman who came in for her delivery requested the authorities to allow her permission to get her dog, Barney along into the maternity room along with her partner, the hospital agreed. A section of the doctors were shocked at the sight of a dog in the delivery room and raised the spectre of infection. Under the unflinching glare of media spotlight, the authorities are now insisting that the dog, in fact, is a frequent visitor to the hospital, under the Dog-As-Therapy programme and that he has passed all tests ruling out infection and other possible dangers to the patients at the hospital. He was there for the therapeutic value of its calming presence on the woman who was delivering, they insisted.

We are almost certain that most women in the maternity ward in the hospital would rather have heard their baby’s cry than a dog’s bark, at that point. Besides, did anybody ask the poor dog if he wanted to have a ringside view of child-birth?

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