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Meet the ute-driving pup bringing joy to the world

<p>The owners of a now-viral pup who was filmed behind the wheel of a work ute have been blown away by the fact that their innocent video has brought so much joy to people around the world.</p> <p>Lexi the Jack Russell was recorded steering the Zschech family ute around a paddock on their farm in south-western Victoria – and the global responses they have received have been overwhelming.</p> <p>"I've had messages from Finland, Canada, America, Great Britain," Cam Zschech, Lexi's owner, told A Current Affair.</p> <p>"It took off a bit more than I thought. I had all these people messaging me. I can't believe it. I still can't believe it really."</p> <p>Ian and Cam have a 1500-acre farm just outside Hamilton, Victoria, and they run grain crops and have about 2000 ewes.</p> <p>"I've been here (for) the long 21 years of my life. It's a place that I'll probably be forever," Cam said.</p> <p>"We got Lexi about 14 months ago. She was really quiet when we got her. We thought we had a good one, but she's turned out to be so much more than that."</p> <p>As it turned out, Lexi has become an internet sensation after her efforts behind the wheel.</p> <p>"I learned to drive with Dad in the passenger seat. We'd put it in low gear and we'd idle along and I would steer. I thought I'd try and teach Lexi," Cam said.</p> <p>The attention that their pooch has received has brought the father and son even closer together.</p> <p>"It's great," Ian said. "And here we are, near Hamilton. It's a beautiful part of the world."</p> <p>For those wondering just how accomplished Lexi is behind the wheel, don't overthink it. To efficiently feed all the sheep, Cam often leaves the ute in low gear and Lexi jumps on the back to distribute hay around the paddock.</p> <p>However, Lexi's latest role, where she sits up in the driver seat, is only to make people smile. She’s only ever left in the ute on their property, in a controlled environment, along a flat paddock.</p> <p>Cam and Ian said they are just out to give everyone a laugh.</p> <p><em>Image: A Current Affair </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

<p>A man from Queensland has been left heartbroken after his ute, with his mother’s ashes in the glove box was stolen.</p><p>Carpenter Kayden Holmes had left his key in the ignition of his white Holden Colorado as he loaded tools into the boot when a thief jumped in and sped off on Sunday.</p><p>The incident was captured on a neighbour’s security camera and the footage was shared on social media. The clip shows Mr Holmes’ attempt to stop the grab and dash before he was dragged along the road in Holmview, a residential suburb of Logan.</p><p>The tradie was left with an ankle injury after his foot was run over during the scuffle. He is now desperate for the return of his mother’s ashes, which had been placed inside a piece of jewellery following her death from cancer in 2015.</p><p>It’s unlikely the alleged thief knew the precious item was inside the glove box of the ute when it was taken.</p><p>“The car is replaceable, everything in that car is replaceable, but the ashes aren’t,” he told 7NEWS on Tuesday.</p><p>“I need them back, I don’t want them, I need them.”</p><p>Mr Holmes told Sunrise that he was now offering “a reward to anyone that comes forward with information leading to the name or the arrest, even just the ashes”.</p><p>“That’s just the last thing I have of mum and it takes a lot to make me upset, and we’ve gone through a lot of humps in this road, but this one has knocked me about a bit.”</p><p>Mr Holmes said he kept the ashes in his car as he liked to have his mother near him at all times.</p><p>“I just thought that having her in the car with me, she can come everywhere I go kind of thing, just to have that kind of reassurance.”</p><p>Queensland Police are investigating the incident and urge anyone with information to contact them.</p><p><em>Image: 7 News</em></p>

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