302 dog shaped balloons

Kym Skelton's world record attempt to see how many balloons she could twist into the shape of various dogs within a hour at Tauranga SPCA's Balloon Bonanza was great fun to watch but was also serious business.
Ms Skelton, 26, of Bellevue said cracking her goal of making more than 300 balloon dogs at yesterday's event may well have put her into the record books - unofficially at least.
The World Record Academy has shown interest in recording Ms Skelton's efforts if she wants to have another go at the challenge - she just needs a find a sponsor to help her pay the registration fee.
Ms Skelton, who owns and runs Kokomo Balloons and Entertainment, said she was delighted to see the smiling faces of young visitors who each left with a balloon dog or two.
"It was a personal challenge, I was keen to have a go.
"It's also been a privilege to hang out at Tauranga SPCA which I have been affiliated with for some time."
One of the 302 dog balloons went home with Joshua Allison, 3, of Welcome Bay, who also lined up to say hi to Ms Skelton's bird, Monty the Rainbow lorikeet, that she takes to many promotional events.
Andrea Smith of Ohauiti who came along with her children Harrison, 4, and Fletcher, 5, said attending the event had a dual purpose, they were hoping they would go home with a replacement for "Puffy" their cat, which ran away not long after they moved house.
SPCA event organiser Becks Lloyd said the event coincided with the SPCA's PAWS Appeal week.
She hoped visitors had fun as well as learned more about the work Tauranga SPCA does.