Sapphire sparkles in Echo Pet Idol contest and claims top prize
Sapphire, an 18-month-old black German shepherd, described as a "bit mad" by her owner, took the title thanks to the text votes of Echo readers.
She pipped another rescue pet, George the cat, the runner-up.
Sadly, George has since passed away — and his owner, Rebecca Day, is donating his prize to the charity Cats Protection.
Sapphire's owner Kirsty Petfield, 23, from St Loye's, Exeter, said: "I suppose everyone thinks there own pet is best but Sapphire really is.
"I have had her since she was three-months-old and she came from the RSPCA. She is full of beans to the point of being a bit mad and it is difficult to get her to sit still.
"Fortunately, she is very vain and loves having her picture taken so I was able to take the photograph for the Pet Idol competition.
"The prize of a year's dog food will be very welcome because she seems to have very expensive tastes. She only eats the top-of-the-range dog food — and won't touch anything that smells like dog food. As for the picture of Sapphire that we won, I think I will find a space for that in the living room."
George's owner, Rebecca, said: "We got George from a friend about 10 years ago. He was a rescue cat and in fact had featured in a Cats Protection appeal in the Echo in 1994.
"He was a wonderful, little fellow and is greatly missed. We don't know how old he was because of his background but we think he must have been 15 or 16.
"He was diabetic and although he had not been ill, he had been getting thinner. He was a lovely, creamy colour and a real couch potato. He would have been pleased and we wanted to donate his prize to Cats Protection for other rescue cats to enjoy."
Scores of Echo pet owners sent in photos of their prized pets which were published in a special Echo supplement on November 1, with readers then voting for their favourite animal by text.
The competition, sponsored by Ark Pet Centres, offered the winner a framed 20in by 30in canvas print of their pet as well as a year's supply of pet food. The runner-up received a goodie bag with money-off vouchers, treats and toys
George the cat, runner-up in our Pet Idol contest, who has, sadly, died, since the competition ended
Comment on this story