Hard to be top dog

Rob Lockyear | 16th July 2009

POLITICS can be a dog's life, but Ipswich's pooches are really feeling the pinch as our canines' popularity is put to the polls.

Shannon Wrinkler has entered Kirra into the Vote my Pet contest.

Sarah Keayes

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POLITICS can be a dog's life, but Ipswich's pooches are really feeling the pinch as our canines' popularity is put to the polls.

Flinders View German shepherd Kirra is among 40 dogs and 10 cats to put themselves forward to represent the federal electorate of Blair as part of the national Vote My Pet campaign.

The campaign is being run from a website where dogs and cats post their profiles and allow the public to decide who is worthy to be the new face of pet-care company Advocate.

In the grand tradition of other actor-turned-politicians, like Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kirra is no stranger to the spotlight.

The five-year-old starred in an Australian movie called Ground Beneath and has been treading the boards of the obedience training circuit for years.

“She is very photogenic,” Kirra's owner and media advisor Shannon Winkler said.

And from the sounds of it you may well see Kirra holding babies in a shopping centre near you any time soon.

“She is just compassionate towards anything and anyone, and she loves to work,” Mrs Winkler said.

But being top dog is a tough business and at the moment Kirra is living in the shadow of Rosewood Siberian husky, Ceasar.

Ceasar's campaign manager Chris Curtis said it had been great to see his Husky climb to the top of the electorate poll and sit comfortably at eighth in Queensland.

“We were quite surprised that he got up there so well,” Mr Curtis said. “We love our dog and think he is pretty cute.”

But life on the campaign trail is tough. Pets are awarded points when their owners actively campaign and Mr Curtis said some of the other parties just had more resources at their disposal.

“Some people must be on there 24-seven,” he said.

• If you want to nominate your pet or want to support your local candidate visit votemypet.com.au.