Breaking news - Lassie press conference

At 4:12 EST, Lassie, friend and long term confident of Chloe Doonkuna, called a press conference to ally cruel and malicious rumors that had been circulating in Pet-paparazzi circles.

For days word on the street was that Lassie was responsible for depositing a dead, half eaten mouse in the front yard of a suburban house in Ainslie, Canberra. Pooches throughout Canberra were agog that such a celebrity as Lassie would stoop to such low culinary standards.

Lassie's close friend, Chloe, when asked expressed her shock, "In all the years I have known Lassie, she has been nothing but true friend, who delighted in nothing more than a good pig trotter or a good serving of PAL. The thought that she might have even been tempted by a mouse is appallingly enough, let along the thought that she might have irresponsibly thrown it away in some poor person's front yard." Chloe did go on to comment, "Mind you, in recent years we have seen a resurgence in the dark side of the force..." When pushed for further explanation Chloe explained, " you know, the dark side, meow, you know."

The carefully staged press conference saw a cool and composed Lassie confront the press pack. In a pre-prepared statement which she read from Lassie denied all rumors and said that the press ought to hound not her but the source of this kind of behavior. While reluctant to name names, when pressed (and persuaded with a smacko and a tummy rub) Lassie acquiesced: "Look, if you are looking for someone who eats mice, you only need look to those who eat them...and we all know who lives at the address where the crime is said to have taken place.

Word is now out that the source of this malicious rumor might be none other than Mr Poximus. When we called by his office his secretary said that Mr Pox was unavailable for comment and felt that he was the cruel victim of a canine-vendetta.