Princess Scrumpy of Scrumpyton - a Jack Russell who ran for NT chief minister but 'was cheated out of her votes by bureaucracy' – dies aged 17 (112 in dog years) as calls grow for a state funeral
- Princess Scrumpy of Scrumpyton passed away in her beloved owner's arms
- The Jack Russell, a political aspirant, died Monday just shy of her 17th birthday
- Princess Scrumpy had launched a bid to become NT's first canine chief minister
A Jack Russell with aspirations of becoming a top politician has died just shy of her 17th birthday.
Princess Scrumpy of Scrumpyton, who once made a tilt for Northern Territory chief minister, passed away on Monday in the arms of her beloved owner Deb Taipale.
The canine attracted worldwide fame in 2016 when she put her best paw forward to become the first canine chief minister, the NT News reported.
Princess Scrumpy of Scrumpyton, who once ran to be lord mayor of Darwin, passed away on Monday, just shy of her 17th birthday
Princess Scrumpy had more than just political setbacks in her life, battling cane toad poisonings, skin cancers and a snake bite
She was back in the political arena a year later when she ran for the position of lord mayor of Darwin. She also mulled a bid for the prime ministership.
Princess Scrumpy ran on a platform of more dog-friendly parks and cafes, after Ms Taipale thought her dog could do a much better job than some of the other candidates.
But Ms Taipale said Princess Scrumpy, who was 112 in dog years, was 'cheated out of her votes due to bureaucracy'.
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'We all know the truth, she'd win in a landslide if they let her run,' Ms Taipale said.
Princess Scrumpy was deemed ineligible to run for public office and in the end was never nominated to be elected mayor.
'Unfortunately for Scrumpy, you have to be on the electoral role and you have to be an Australian citizen and you have to be over 18 years,' Northern Territory electoral commissioner Iain Loganathan told the NT News in 2017.
Princess Scrumpy's owner said Princess Scrumpy, who was 112 in dog years, was 'cheated out of her votes due to bureaucracy'
Princess Scrumpy had more than just political setbacks in her life, battling cane toad poisonings, skin cancers and a snake bite.
'The vets always called her the "terminator of dogs" - she kept bouncing back,' Ms Taipale said.
The NT News has now put questions to Chief Minister Michael Gunner's office, for consideration of a state funeral for Princess Scrumpy.
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