The Stranger is pleased to announce that Lady Prunella Knucklesnude von Wrinklebothum is the 1st runner-up in our inaugural Ugly Pet Contest, sponsored by Urban Animal Clinic, Purrfect Cat Boarding, and Emerald City Pet Rescue. (You can check out our 2nd runner-up, Rocco the Pughuahua, here.)
For her incredible looks, Prunella was treated to a photo shoot and a prize package from PureAyre. We also asked Prunella’s mother/owner, Beck, to tell us a bit about the marvelous Sphynx.
How did Prunella make her way to Seattle?
I have only lived with rescued pets and I searched for a rescue Sphynx for a few years. They are an exotic breed and are usually purchased through breeders. Since they are expensive, you don’t see many that need rescuing unless they have serious health or behavior issues.
I first saw her (she was called Peach then) on Overstock.com’s pet rescue page. She was being fostered in Minneapolis, so after a few weeks of vetting and interviews, I took a long weekend and flew out to pick her up. She had been rescued from a cat hoarder nearby and I was told she was between 2-4 years old and there was something wrong with her ears, so she might have been a runt.
I was really nervous for some reason and worried she might not like me. It totally felt like a first date. She was wild and scrappy and refused to sit still; completely different from how she is now. She was teeny-tiny, maybe 5-6lbs with scabs and scars from cat scratches. She didn’t make a peep the entire flight home.
When I finally found a vet that was familiar with the breed, he told me she still had her kitty teeth and was probably 9-11 months. That her curled ears were, as I suspected, normal because she was actually an Elf Sphynx; a sub-breed of Sphynx with the American Curl on her father’s side. Now she’s a spoiled, happy, wrinkled, 10 pound, 4-year-old with a more appropriate name for her elevated life!
Does Prunella know any tricks?
Yes! She is scary smart, which is expected for her breed. She high-5’s, sits, spins, sits pretty on her hind legs; all on command with the occasional treat bribe. She also knows Up, Down, Off. Right now we are working on having her jump through my arms when I hold them out in a circle. She is leash trained and loves jumping into the car and riding in her car seat. If she really wants to, she can open doors with levered handles. She also grabs and picks things up with her front paws and will kinda throw things at you if she is feeling ignored. Those things she’s taught herself. Basically, she’s a bossy monkey-dog.
Prepare your pups… The Stranger‘s pet issue comes out on 4/11, featuring our inaugural #UglyPetContest winner on the cover!
