Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Enter your pets and help other animals
TREY Metcalf, 13, loves his cat Jingles. She came into the boy’s life when he was going through a rough patch, and now Trey wants to enter her into a pet competition because he thinks she is the “cat’s meow”.
The search is on for this year’s most- loved cat and dog in the SPCA Royal Canin Mutt and Meow of the Year online competition. They have already received more than 130 entries.
Young pet owners, who believe they have the coolest and most loving relationships with their pets can enter at www.muttandmeow.co.za and share their stories and the reason why they think their pet should win.
Trey says: “Jingles deserves to be the Meow of the Year because she helped me get through a tough time. At the same time that my parents got divorced, my pet cat Raybans got a brain tumour and was put to sleep. I thought things would never get better.”
But after a while, he got another furry friend. “My mom adopted one from a shelter. When I got home from my dad, all I heard was the sound of bells, and that’s when I met a pretty cat called Jingles.
“She is the most amazing cat who is just so lovable with the softest hair, which calms me. She makes me feel better and knows when I am down. I love her more than anything.”
This is Trey’s entry and the competition’s panel of judges, which includes local comedian Marc Lottering, radio and TV presenter Liezel van der Westhuizen, and actress and presenter Natalie Becker, will choose the best story.
Lottering adores his dog, Tina, so he knows what to look out for.
“Tina is the only ‘woman’ who controls every second of my life,” says the comedian.
The spokeswoman for the Cape of Goodhope SPCA, Lise-Marie Greeff-Villet, says everyone loves gorgeous cats and dogs, but this competition is not a beauty contest; the Mutt and Meow of the Year competition raises money for the SPCA.
“It also aims to remind us all of the bond that can form between animal and owner, and the joy that results from these sometimes life-changing relationships.”
So, if you think your dog is the best “best” friend a man can have or that there is no cat more lovable than your furry feline, then see www.muttandmeow.co.za and share your story.
By entering your pets into the competition, not only do they stand the chance to walk away with this awesome title and fantastic prizes, you will also help to raise money for the hundreds of homeless, abandoned and injured dogs and cats, horses, cows, ducks, rabbits and wildlife that the SPCA rescues and cares for at their 141year-old centre in Grassy Park.
Prizes include up to six months’ worth of Royal Canin pet food, photo shoots for owners and pets by professional pet photographers Tamed and Framed, and many more surprises.
Last year, Bear, a gorgeous caramel- coloured rescue dog received the most votes for his owner’s happy tale and walked away as Mutt of the Year 2012. Bear has provincial colours in dog agility and belongs to LeeAnne Curtis-Cox. Rabs, a striking white cat who brought great comfort and joy in difficult times to her owners Carrie and Henry Rossouw, was named the first SPCA Royal Canin Meow of the Year. The winner of the Top Fundraiser category was fouryear-old Yorkie-cross Luni, whose owner, Susan van Niekerk, raised R2 000 for the society by encouraging friends and family to vote for her pet in the form of donations.
Last year, R20 000 was raised for the society, and the SPCA hopes that this year’s competition will raise much more.
Lara Portlock, of pet food company Royal Canin, says they are proud to support this valuable fund-raising initiative. “There is a desperate need to assist the charities that work tirelessly to rescue, care for and re-home unwanted and abused animals,” she says.
She believes that everyone can make a difference to the life of an animal. “All animal lovers should take part in this worthwhile competition to raise funds for a good cause.”
The four competition cate- gories are Mutt of the Year and Meow of the Year, which are open to all cats and dogs, and Mutt Top Fundraiser and Meow Top Fundraiser, which will be awarded to the dog and cat who through the votes they receive, raise the most money.
A shortlist of finalists for the Mutt and Meow of the Year will be put together and the judging panel will choose the top three winners in each category.
To enter, see www.muttandmeow.co.za, upload a photograph of your mutt or meow and provide a short description as to why your pet deserves the prestigious title and how he or she has made your life. Complete your entry by making a small donation to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. The deadline for entries is 4pm on Monday. Voting closes on Thursday at 4pm and the winners will be announced by Friday, July 19.