Cartland look-alike dog wins show
7:21am Monday 5th December 2005 in Bizarre By Guardian-series
LOOKALIKE: Barbara Cartland lookalike Hayley
A Barbara Cartland look-alike has won a prestigious competition in London, with the twist being that the winner was Hayley, a dog from Chigwell.
Crossbreed Hayley, owned by Pauline Homer, won the Dog Most Like a Celebrity (bitch class) in the Companion Dog Club Competition at the Discover Dogs show, Earls Court.
The competition, open only to members of the Companion Dog Club, also featured categories such as Most Handsome Dog and Best OAP.
Former guide dog Hayley, who had never been entered into a serious competition before, impressed judges with her looks and Cartland-like demeanour.
Mrs Homer, who has owned Hayley for four years, said: "Hayley's a very pompous dog, and I think that's what did it for the judges, she thinks she's a princess. She has a habit of crossing her legs, and when she did that in front of the judges, that was what sealed it for her."
At eleven-and-a-half Hayley has retired as a guide dog but still works as a pat dog at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, where she is popular with staff and patients.
Mrs Homer said she entered Hayley for fun, and never thought she would win.
"I was really surprised, but she adored the attention of the crowd, and they loved her too."
