Odour-able Telford skunk wins first ever beauty prize
A skunk from Shropshire is basking in the sweet smell of success after winning the first beauty contest dedicated to its species.
Owners Laura Muir and David Rogers, of Telford, have it in black and white – their odour-able pet is the best skunk in the country.
One-year-old Jordi Alba clawed the best in show and best female prizes at Pet Skunks UK's first competition, held at Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club.
And Laura, 29, of Ketley Bank, said she didn't need to preen or pamper her furry friend to get her show-stopping looks.
"I didn't have to groom her – she keeps herself clean," said the administrator for fork-lift truck training company, RTITV, on Halesfield.
"They are not smelly despite what people think. She uses a litter tray and they only spray when they are threatened so I just have to keep her happy."
A law passed in 1997 made it illegal to remove the glands that produce the chemical that causes a stink.
Laura added: "She lives in the house and she has a cage for sleeping in when we are out. But she comes and gives us cuddles. She eats mainly vegetables, a little bit of fruit and eggs, chicken and fish."
Jordi Alba attracted plenty of praise from the panel of judges during exotic pet awareness day on Saturday.
"The judges said she had an active personality and a great coat and tail and was very fit and healthy," said Laura.
She chose the unusual £450 creature as they can live to up to 13 years and are full of character.
"My in-laws knew Ian Thorton who breeds them in Aqueduct so we went to see them and we just fell in love with them straight away."
