By Jodie Symonds
SASSAFRAS resident Colin Batt and his four-year-old Labrador Emma have been delighting Sassafras shop owners on their morning daily walks.
The pair walks through the town at about 10.30am during rain, hail or shine – and greets customers and shopkeepers along the main street.
Mr Batt has quite a following, with shopkeepers waiting out the front of their businesses to say hello to him and Emma.
He said walking through the town was a mix of socialising and exercise.
“I do like to keep fit, but we’re only doing a small walk today because of the weather,” Mr Batt said.
“It’s good for her (Emma) because she gets a walk and gets to say hello to everybody.
“She’s very spoilt though, some people feed her.”
He said he had always loved Labradors, because they were kind and obedient.
“Emma is my sixth Labrador – and she’s a very good dog,” Mr Batt said.
“She loves attention, though. I could be 50 feet away from someone and she’ll just plonk her bottom down and not move until she gets to say hello to that person and gets a pat.”
Manager at Creswick Natural Fibres in Sassafras, Lyn Gubbins said she loved seeing Mr Batt and Emma walk past her shop every day.
“He just makes me so happy,” Ms Gubbins said.
“I love to give Emma a pat every morning and it just brightens your day.
“Emma is such a gorgeous dog.”
Ms Gubbins said Mr Batt was a lovely man.
“He’s around the same age as my dad, and he is just so friendly and he really does make you smile every morning,” Ms Gubbins said.
