Competition Launches For Animal Lovers On The Isle Of Wight

Chris Packham and partner his Charlotte Corney are encouraging Islanders to enter a competition to showcase your much-loved pet and raise money for the RSPCA.

Chis and Charlotte, who founded The Wildheart Trust charity - which runs the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (or the former Isle of Wight Zoo) is asking Islanders to enter the charity's Home Pet Show - by submitting a picture of their beloved miniature poodles Sid and Nancy.

The competition is raising money to support animal welfare activity carried out at the Isle of Wight's RSPCA’s rescue centre in Godshill.

The Home Pet Show is an all-animal event designed to showcase animal friends and the special bonds they share with their human companions.

Islanders are invited to submit photographs or video footage of their beloved pets in one or more of six fun virtual categories, with local winners – as well as receiving great prizes - being put forward to regional finals of the national competition.

Local organisers were thrilled to receive the entry from Chris and Charlotte along with a message of encouragement.

Chris said:

“We are delighted to enter Sid and Nancy who are siblings aged just over two years

“The work of the RSPCA is so important and never more so than during the Covid Pandemic when animal companionship proved such an important aspect of the lives of so many people during lockdown. We are delighted to be supporting the Home Pet Show and urge all animal lovers to get involved.”

For a small fee of £2.50 per entry - with funds going towards RSPCA Isle of Wight - pets can be entered into the following categories:

• Best Rescue 
• Best Trick 
• Best Friends 
• Golden Oldie 
• Best Baby
• Peas in a Pod (pets that look like their owners) 

The Isle of Wight heat will be judged by a panel of animal lovers – Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, Zebaria Fisher, a lecturer from the Animal Care Department at the Isle of Wight College and RSPCA Isle of Wight Branch Manager, Suzanne Pugh.

Winners will be invited for refreshments and a VIP behind the scenes tour of the RSPCA Isle of Wight animal rescue centre and will take home a goody bag filled with treats for pets and their human companions. Wightlink has also generously donated travel vouchers for the Isle of Wight winners.

For those chosen to represent the Isle of Wight at the regional finals in June, there will be the chance to win one of 12 handcrafted animal keepsakes, £20 and a hamper.

The regional winners will then go on to the national final via Zoom on 19 June, where the Best in Show 2021 will be announced by RSPCA CEO Chris Sherwood and the winner presented with a £250 John Lewis voucher.

To enter visit the RSPCA Isle of Wight Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rspcaisleofwight for details or go to www.rspca.org.uk/onefunday to enter - making sure to select the Isle of Wight local heat.

The closing date for entries is midnight on 14 June 2021.