Guinea pigs enjoy bite of tomfoolery
About 150 guinea pig enthusiasts were enthralled by the high calibre of costumes and speedy grass eaters at the Garden City Cavy Club show in Christchurch at the weekend.
Show secretary Sean MacFarlane said about 40 guinea pigs were entered by mainly child owners in the pet section competition including fancy dress, grass eating and Mr and Mrs Canterbury competitions.
Amber, dressed as a television weather presenter, took out the fancy dress prize much to the delight of her 11-year-old owner, Reuben Frost.
Other entries included a rabbit riding a bicycle and a hibernating bear for the category’s autumn theme.
Six finalists in the grass eating race included one contender that lost focus and ate its fancy dress costume instead.
The morning pedigree show was a more serious affair which drew 24 entries from club members.
Judge Sandra Smith, who came from Ashburton to do the honours, said she stuck to criteria laid out in the rule book but after an animal met the basic standards for a category things could get more difficult.
‘‘That’s what you call the ‘nitty gritty’ and you take your glasses out and really look carefully for any faults. It might have the wrong coloured eyes, or nicks in the ears because it has been in a fight.’’
Sean and Lisa MacFarlane’s guinea pig, Tutti Fruiti, imported from Australian breeder Farrelly for $560, won the best breed for the rex and rough coat categories.
The long-term guinea pig breeders where nonplussed by the animal’s success.
‘‘Yeah, it’s nice to know you spent $560 on a guinea pig and it’s not rubbish,’’ he said.
The MacFarlane’s have owned guinea pigs for 11 years and currently have 25. However, recently Lisa developed an allergy to her beloved pets.