It’s a pet’s life for Jai and Rylo

Dwarf  lop rabbit Jai won a competition to feature alongside 41 other pets in a national television advert for pet insurer Petplan which went on air on Wednesday.

One-year-old Jai went head-to-head with 29,000 fame hungry fidos, felines and flopsies to win a starring role in the brand’s first ever user-generated television advert.

Owner, bank clerk Zoe Copley, sent his photograph to Petplan’s Facebook page before Jai was then chosen as one of the 100 finalists by an independent panel of judges.

He was then short-listed to the final 42 in a public vote.

Zoe said: “The best thing about Jai is his character. He has plenty of attitude and tells you what he wants.

“His colouring is unique, his eyes are brown at the top and blue at the bottom and he has a lot of blue/grey running through the beige in his coat.

“He is very energetic and loves to run around the house and garden and is a joy to watch.”

Jai featured alongside the voice of Ben Miller from comedy double act Armstrong and Miller the one-off television advert.

In Brinsworth, Rylo the pug is celebrating after the public voted him South Yorkshire’s Prize Pooch.

Rylo triumphed in the competition, organised by photography firm Venture, with £1 from each competition entry going to animal charity Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Rylo and his owners Craig Howlett-Wright and David Birks have received a large portrait of him following their win and the pug has gone through to the national final of the competition.

The winner will be announced on Monday, July 22 and will receive an array of doggy treats.

Owner David said: “When we put Rylo forward, we never thought for a moment that he would be named as a regional finalist.”