Kaitaia veterinarian Fiona Sucich knows a well cared for pet when she sees one, and she saw plenty at Ahipara School last week.
She was the judge for the school's pet parade, part of a hugely successful inaugural A&P day that had a very rural Far North flavour.
The star of the four-legged show was undoubtedly Popcorn, a three-year-old kunekune that has been a much loved pet in Manaaki, Waiata and Te Rehua Harrison's home since she was a piglet, but there was some tough competition from cats, rabbits, lambs, a calf, guinea pigs, dogs, a goat and even a possum.
In the afternoon attention moved indoors, where the pupils had prepared a stunning array of exhibits, which were admired by all and judged by experts. Those results will be published on Tuesday, but the pet results were as follows.
Dogs: Jayden Mealings (Lutchie) 1, Victor Astill (Yogi) 2, Courtney and Blake Hammond (Larry) and Poppy Leef (Peaches) 3 equal.
