World Cup Fever - Even The Dogs Are Getting It!

aNt's aNgle:

JUST LIKE THE FAMED PSYCHIC OCTOPUS from Germany - and the light green parakeet from Singapore - the situation is a split right down to the middle with my four dogs as to which nation will walk away with the World Cup title.

That will be happening in less than 12-hours time at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa where Netherlands (also known as Holland) and Spain will face-off in FIFA 2010.

Following in the tentacled suctions of Paul the octopus, my two canines Zeus Haras, the one-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd and his older "sister" Reba the Shetland Sheepdog, aged six, are going with Spain for the soccer triumph.

The sable-coloured Zeus initially was fully behind Germany until his ancestors made a stunning loss to Spain which turned out to be an unforgettable tail-cowering experience for the mutt. 

And as they say, "if you can't beat them - then just join them" is the motto the working shepherd breed decided to adopt. 

Hot on his heels is Reba who all this while thought that her native Scotland was still in the World Cup. 

But never underestimate a sheltie who's can't remember details. And especially if she is from a breed that ranks well inside the top ten list of the most intelligent dogs in the world!

She is firmly behind Spain. 

And everyone who knows her knows that when it comes to her exceptional nose skills, it is always a bullseye when it comes to her ability to sniff out a winner with exceptional accuracy. 

Well, in about a few hours time, we will know exactly how true that is.


Both Reba and Zeus will be watching the game from their home in Shah Alam, Selangor. They'll be joined by their guardian (eh, or is it the other way around) with Petpositive's assistant treasurer Andrew Martin.

Over at my home in Petaling Jaya, my furry boys and I are already getting ready for all the action after midnight tonight. 

Biman III, my senior service dog Alsatian, like Zeus, had also pitched in for Germany until its humiliating defeat recently. 

The way the super canine sees it, anything less than the very best is always an embarrassment for Germany's top class standards.

Biman too was going behind Spain until his instincts recently led him to take the path of Mani the parakeet from Singapore. 

Being always a supporter of the - pardon the pun - "underdogs", (ouch!) he managed to quickly regain his composure and confidence and is now rooting for Holland.

As for my retired service dog Soo the Golden Retriever, he's too old and not too bothered to want to have a fight with anyone about who's going to win the World Cup before dawn tomorrow.

He just wants me to make sure that he's fed on time and promptly served his favourite dessert afterwards. (He goes crazy over bananas!).

After a quick online browsing at midnight, we'll all be heading for my bed where the "idiot box" (not tonight, anywya) is next to it. 

According to our tradition from the last World Cup four years ago, Biman gets to sleep with me on my bed and Soo under my wheelchair. 


Happy World Cup fever to everyone for tonight's game. And hearty woofs to the rest of the world!

Curtains go up at 2.30am on Monday morning. 

(By the way, if you read this story and was inspired about how animals cheer up the disabled and the elderly, why not help us to help more people to have some of the magic of special friends, too?

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PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our contents are ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is 45,000 hits and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my