Saturday, April 28, 2007

Oh dear!

I must admit, I did get a giggle in reading the local newspaper today. I guess it's comical seeings that sheep are one of the main things we see out here! Well I *guess* I can see similarities. They are both white and furry and cute.

Essentially if you can't read the article, which I'm thinking even with my glasses on here I'm having a hard time reading it on the screen, is that thousands of unsuspecting Japanese thought they were buying poodles, but were sold sheep instead at $1600 each!!

The jig was only up when a Japanese movie star went on a talk show and wondered why her new pet "poodle" would not bark or eat dog food. Hundreds of other women got in touch with police as they feared similar. One couple only became suspicious when they took their "poodle" to the vet to have its claws trimmed and were told they were actually hooves.

They did also comment in the article that sheep are rare in Japan and many Japanese do not know what a sheep looks like.

What an interesting world we live in. I don't know, I can see the benefits of having a sheep around the house. You'd never have to mow the lawn again. You'd never have to worry about your winter wardrobe - just knit yourself up another jumper. Although I don't know if a baaaaaaa would be a deterrant to any would-be burglary, but I do hear that sheep give a pretty mean headbutt!


5 comments:

Bells&Jane said...

tee. I didn't hear that. Very cute. You've gotta wonder what the early conversations were like the when people behind the scam were thinking it up!

Tracy Blankenship said...

hi Carol...I have a little Rak for you...can you email me at tmblankenship@gmail.com and say Rak for Me??? in the title?

tracyb (scrappindigistyle.blogspot.com)

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

That is funny, except for the poor little lambs that aren't being fed properly. I don't think japanese manage to own a lot of lawn either-so they wouldn't be getting too much use out of their poodle-but how much use do you get out of a real one!Tracey

Heather said...

If Paris Hilton had fallen for it, we would have had it on the TV here 'round the clock for days.

(I'm fighting every instinct to make some sort of inappropriate Scotland-based joke.)

Jenni said...

It's a good story isn't it, but apparently it has come out that this is a Japanese Urban Myth that comes up every few years. Our local newspaper fell for it hook line and sinker. I sometimes read Bells blog - interesting that you met her.