Thor wins Pet Idol

Thor, an American bulldog, is taking his Pet Idol victory in his stride. With him are other members of the Windelborn family. See bottom of article for names. PICTURE / PETER DE GRAAF

The winner of Kaitaia Pet Idol 2015 isn't letting his new-found fame go to his head.

Thor, an American bulldog who lives with the Windelborn family of Pukepoto, was content yesterday to pose for photographs, shake hands with well-wishers, and roll in the grass.

Photos of all 36 entrants - cats, dogs, puppies, rabbits, pooches in dresses and sunglasses, and one scary looking thing that may have been a cat - were published in the Northland Age on November 5, with readers given the opportunity to vote for their favourite.

Our front desk staff reported a flood of entries, a run on that day's papers and lots of positive comments from readers.

In the end the favourite pet title went to Thor, owned by two-year-old Zariah Windelborn.

Her family received a Nikon Coolpix digital compact camera worth $329, donated by Folders Kaitaia.

The cutest pooch prize went to Drake, owned by Kayla Travers of Kaitaia; while the Northland Age staff choice was won by a cat named Squishy, owned by Alannah Beckham-Steen, also from Kaitaia.

Drake won a $50 grooming voucher from Pet Care Kaitaia while Squishy won a vaccination at Far North Vets and Pets.

Renee Windelborn, the mother of Zariah and four other pet-loving kids, said the family saw a photo of Thor when he was for sale a year and half ago and had to have him.

"He's fitted in perfectly. He even gets on with the cats," she said.

The family has a menagerie of 12 animals which includes cats, kittens, rabbits and calves.

Milin Windelborn, 7, said Thor was very playful. His favourite things were water and chasing and popping bubbles. Thor's name comes from the Norse god of thunder.

Names to accompany image: Zariah, 2, and mum Renee; and, from back left, Rylee, 11, Malcolm, 4 months, Jarque, 9, and Milin, 7; and Folders marketing coordinator Cayden Crombie.