Bruce the dog may be one of the ACT's most seasoned political campaigners, having spent years on the hustings with her owner, Steven Bailey, a past federal and ACT candidate for the Australian Sex Party.
She's also been a support for other candidates, and even ridden in the back of Bob Katter's ute, Bailey once a staffer for Katter.
Bruce, although a she, was named after Steven's favourite drama teacher at Narrabundah College. She, with Steven, was even the subject of a stunning photograph by Jamila Toderas, which was a finalist in last year's National Photographic Portrait Prize.
And, now, she is being feted with a 10th birthday celebration at Smith's Alternative in Civic on Friday night. And everyone is invited for an evening of music, stories and frivolity as an antidote to 2020's doom and gloom.
Mr Bailey wants it to be also an event which shows politics hasn't gone to the dogs. About 10 candidates contesting the October ACT election had already RSVP-ed for Bruce's celebrations.
Mr Bailey said while he would not be contesting the ACT poll, he and Bruce would be participants in the political process.
"Bruce and I are playing an active role to support the candidate(s) we believe in, and we are still on the hustings with Bruce posing for photos with politicians and the public in general," he said.
"It is easy to become despondent and apathetic when it comes to modern politics, but the truth is that we, the people, determine the nature of our politics whether we engage in it or not," Mr Bailey said.
"It takes guts and intelligence to maintain one's enthusiasm and rage. We face so many great ethical challenges in this century, and it's all good and well for people to rant on social media, but if people can't be bothered to understand how they are voting, then they are simply letting someone else determine the future. We must start teaching politics in schools.
"For me, at its best, politics is the great enabler. At its worst, politics is thoughtless, heartless, and hopeless.
"A sense of humour doesn't go astray, either. Bruce's birthday will bring people together."
Bruce 's 10th birthday starts at 7.30pm on Friday at Smith's Alternative, Alinga Street, Civic.
