FULL MEMBER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 151, 12 April 1950, Page 2

FULL MEMBER

SONIA THE COLLIE LONDON. Sonia is a 10-year-old collie owned by Mrs Catherine Peacock, of Laighmuir Cottage, Dunlop, Ayrshire. For the past two years Mrs Peacock has paid a membership fee to the local breach of the Women’s Royal Institute for Sonia, who attends every meeting. She even goes to dances and watches from the platform. It is not surprising that this collie should want a little recreation, because every morning except Sunday she sets out to “work” carrying her lunch basket. During the war Mrs Peacock worked as a porter at Dunlop station. Sonia often accompanied her and made friends with the surfacemen. The dog began to go with them every day, and when Mrs Peacock realised that the men were feeding the dog from their own dinners she bought a little basket and put a “piece” in it for Sonia. Every night Mrs Peacock puts a piece into the basket and hangs it inside the front door. Then, in the morning, the foreman surfaceman opens the door, gives the basket to Sonia, and the pair go off together. Sonia returns in the late afternoon to a hot.dinner. She has been keeping these regular hours for more than four years now. But on Sundays she lies contentedly in her basket till well on in the forenoon.