A living work of art

On February 15, 1994, Guðni Ágústsson, a member of Parliament, proposed to increase the respect and prestige of the Icelandic Sheepdog:

"The Icelandic Sheepdog is a national heritage and a national treasure of Iceland, it is a living artwork that we must preserve."

Parliament concluded by appointing a committee to make proposals for measures to protect and purify the breed of the Icelandic Sheepdog.

The proposal can be read here. (Icelandic)

Friðjón Þórðarson, former minister and district commissioner, saw the humor both in Guðni's exposition and argumentation and summarized the subject of his speech in a verse that went like this:

Ó,íslenski fjárhundur,lifandi listaverk

með ljómandi augu sem höfða til réttlætiskenndar.

Með hringaða rófu og hálsband um loðna kverk,

Nú heiti ég á þig að komast til allsherjarnefndar.

Happy National day!