Oddball, the Warrnambool penguin protector, has died aged 15
<p>One of Australia’s most famous – and hard-working – dogs ever, Oddball, the Maremma sheepdog employed to protect a penguin colony on Warrnambool’s Middle Island, has passed away at the age of 15 – or 105 in dog years.</p>
<p>“Old Oddball has gone to the big chook run in the sky and will rest in peace,” the Middle Island Maremma Project posted on Facebook yesterday.</p>
<p>Oddball was enlisted back in 2006 to protect the island’s fairy penguin colony from foxes, who had culled the population of the birds to less than 10 in 2005. While she only stayed on the island for three weeks before becoming lonely and swimming back to shore, her role as penguin protector inspired a new training program, teaching other Maremma dogs to follow in Oddball’s footsteps. And, in the ten years since the program began, the number of penguins has risen to an impressive 130. There are currently two dogs, Eudy and Tula, who spend five days a week during the penguins’ breeding season to protect the colony.</p>
<p>For the last few years, Oddball has lived on her owner Allan “Swampy” Marsh’s farm in Dennington due to a heart condition which slowed her down. It was there where she peacefully passed away last week.</p>
<p>Rest in peace, Oddball.</p>
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