Dog who protected penguins dies aged 15

Oddball the Maremma was an inspiration to dogs all over the world. She worked as a great penguin protector (seriously) and even inspired her own movie, which was named after her, of course.

As part of a pioneering project developed by Allan ‘Swampy’ Marsh in 2006, it was Oddball’s job to protect the fairy penguin population of Middle Island in Australia’s south-west Victoria from local foxes and other predators.

She was the first dog sent to the island as part of the Middle Island Maremma Project and proved many a time that nobody could look after the penguins like she could.

#RIP Oddball, what an incredible #legacy you leave behind! 💔 #maremma #penguins #thankyou #oddball pic.twitter.com/KnhvsmdvMs

— Wet Noses Mobile Vet (@WetnosesVet) February 15, 2017

Allan, her owner, said Oddball was his ‘right-hand lady’.

‘She was 105 in dog years, so she had pretty good innings,’ he told ABC News.

‘She’s had a great legacy, and she’ll always be remembered as one of the most polite dogs around.’