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Victorian politicians unite in calling for dog to be allowed back in parliament

In a rare show of unity, Victorian politicians from all persuasions are calling for a Spring Street ban to be overturned.
At the centre of the furore is a 14-year-old Maltese Terrier named Sprite who has been told he is no longer welcome to stroll the corridors of Victoria's Parliament House.
The rescue dog has been coming to work with his human, who is a parliamentary staffer.
In a rare show of unity, Victorian politicians from all persuasions are calling for a Spring Street ban to be overturned.
In a rare show of unity, Victorian politicians from all persuasions are calling for a Spring Street ban to be overturned. (Supplied)
The canine has become something of a mascot.
But the Department of Parliamentary Services has since deemed it inappropriate for him to be in the workplace.
Both sides of parliament have spoken out about the decision.
"I have two dogs of my own, I love them dearly and they wouldn't want me to come home and know that I've been seeing other dogs," Premier Jacinta Allen said.
"Sprite's mum has been absolutely dignified in this, she hasn't complained to us, it's just many MPs have noticed he has been banned from here," Animal Justice Party's Georgie Purcell said.
<p>A loyal dog that waited for three weeks outside a hospital for its owner had no way of knowing the man had died. </p><p>
The faithful Rottweiler sat in silent vigil for its owner who had been taken to hospital in Sao Paulo in Brazil after first following the ambulance that carried the owner there. </p><p>


Despite bad weather the sad pup sat and watched the door fruitlessly waiting for its owner to emerge. </p><p>
Luisa Mell, who runs a local animal welfare group, came to the dog's aid after its long wait in the hope of finding him a new home, The Dodo reports. </p><p>
"He is now under our care," Ms Mell wrote on the group’s Facebook page, adding the dog is "sweet, super gentle and affectionate".    </p><p>
Since the dog's story was shared on social media there have been hundreds of people offering to give him a new home. </p><p>
Take a look through for more heart-wrenching and inspiring stories of loving and loyal dogs. </p><p>
</p>
Loyal dog waits three weeks outside hospital for owner who died
"I hope all of you will get behind team Sprite and join with me as we campaign to bring Sprite back to Spring Street," Labor MP Sonja Terpstra said.
"I think we should free Sprite," treasurer Tim Pallas said.
Sprite is not the first canine to be well-known in Spring Street.
Two dogs named Patch and Ted were ferried around in a government car in 2017 and their owner MP Steve Herbert retired not long after.
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