The Advertiser’s Cutest and Quirkiest Pet Competition | Last chance to vote

A mismatched herd of finalists is in the running to be named the state’s cutest and quirkiest pet. Time is running out to vote, cast yours before 8am Friday.

Time is running out to cast yout vote in The Advertiser’s Cutest and Quirkiest Pet Competition.

We called on all animal lovers to nominate their furbabies and were flooded with photos of beloved pets that swim, meow, fly and belong in a paddock.

But only one can be crowned the state’s cutest and quirkiest with the final votes to be tallied at 8am on Friday

Currently stealing hearts and leading the vote are: Butters the lamb, Henry the alpaca, Nigel the sulphur-crested cockatoo, Trev the rabbit, and Kevi the mini pig.

The full mismatched herd of finalists are still in the running to claim the crown.

To vote, scroll down, find the pet you want to win the crown and hit cast your vote before Friday, October 6 at 8am.

SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE FOR SA’S CUTEST AND QUIRKIEST PET

Junior the groodle from Tennyson has already been crowned as SA’s cutest dog for 2023 so we asked dog people to keep their pooches on a leash as they aren’t eligible to take out the title.

Kevin Bacon is as happy as a pig in mud after being named a finalist in the search for South Australia’s cutest and quirkiest pet.

The miniature pig is among the farmyard friends, cuddly cats and gorgeous guinea pigs in the running to take out the title with voting now open.

Kevi as he is affectionately known was a 40th birthday present for Alison Meaney and is set to celebrate his own sixth birthday with a cake and a party hat on Wednesday.

Kevi the pig from the Clare Valley. Picture: Supplied

Alison Meaney and Kevi the pig from the Clare Valley. Picture: Supplied

He was flown from Victoria before making Ms Meaney’s Clare Valley glamping farm his home, proving pigs do in fact fly.

“I never imagined that I would ever have a pet pig. But now, I can’t imagine life without him. He’s just such a character,” she said.

“He’s my child – I don’t have real children, so he’s one of my kids and brightens my day every day.”

Ms Meaney said the birthday boy captured the hearts of everyone he met.

“He likes to annoy the sheep and cows in the paddock. When they try to relax, he will be sure to wander over and give them a muddy kiss and push them, forcing them to get up,” Ms Meaney said.

“He loves people and will come running to anyone who calls him, but cries when you visit him and don’t take him any food or give him belly rubs.”

Among the other finalists is Henry – an alpaca unlike any other with a larger than life personality who likes to play dead to sunbake, frolic and rub his bottom against trees.

Kevin Bacon the pig from the Clare Valley. Picture: Supplied

Henry is the friendliest alpaca you'll ever meet. He likes to play dead in the middle of the paddocks, rub his bottom in the bushes and frolic. Picture: Esther LeBherz

Henry has been a beloved member of the LeBherz family for the past two years despite breaking a couple of trees here and there.

“He’s broken a few trees rubbing his butt on the bushes and sometimes he’ll flop over into the bushes and trees as well,” Esther LeBherz, 35, said.

“He likes to just flop over on his side in the middle of the paddock and lay there like he’s dead so he can sunbake.

“But everyone that pulls up to the driveway goes ‘oh my goodness, what’s wrong with him?’ but he’s just being Henry.”

Ms LeBherz said it was Henry’s quirkiness that her family loved most about him.

“Alpacas usually tend to stay away from people but Henry has a very big personality, likes to be in your face and does everything a little bit strange to the other alpacas which is what we love about him,” she said.

Henry has also recently become a dad to six-week-old Henrietta and is already “very maternal and protective” of his baby.

Ms LeBherz decided to enter Henry, who belongs to parents Karen and Steve LeBherz of Dublin, into The Advertiser’s Cutest and Quirkiest Pets Competition because he’s “one of the most quirky farm animals” she’s ever met.

“Mum would be so happy if he won because he’s an alpaca who shouldn’t have a personality like that but he does and it’d be awesome for that to be recognised,” she said.

Note: You must be a digital subscriber to vote in The Advertiser Cutest and Quickest Pet Competition. One only vote per subscriber will be recorded. Voting closes Friday, October 6 at 8am. The winner will be announced later.

A DEER AND A GALAH MAKE AN UNLIKELY PAIR

At Leila Kasprzak’s Birdwood home Buddy the deer and Mauz galah, share a love-hate relationship and are known for stealing food from each other.

“Mauz is the boss, despite being the smallest in the family,” Ms Kasprzak, 40, said.

“They are both the cutest pets ever.”

Buddy and Mauz have been Ms Kasprzak’s family for five years.

The Cambrai Primary School and Preschool principal rescued Mauz when he broke his wing on the Hills farm and then adopted Buddy after he was abandoned as a baby.

Buddy the Fallow deer with his mates Mauz the galah and Cole the dog. Picture: Instagram / @buddythefallowdeer

Ms Kasprzak said her deer friend had to move out of the house after he got too big and developed a taste for curtains and cords.

But the lucky galah, despite being described as “a feisty one” still gets to live inside and often makes school visits.

Mauz even escaped and flew off last week, he was missing for a day but eventually came back.