A SOUTHAMPTON rescue dog has been crowned the star of a county-wide competition.

Alsatian-crossbreed Wilf has been crowned the winner of Linden Homes’ Boorley Park and Limewood Grange Star of the Show Home Competition.

The competition called on dog and cat owners across Hampshire to submit a photo and short bio of their beloved pet to be in with the chance of being the furry face of promotional materials, such as adverts and leaflets, for Linden Homes’ Boorley Park and Limewood Grange developments.

As the winner Wilf was invited to star in a photo shoot in the show home at Boorley Park in Botley to illustrate how pets are an integral part of what makes a house a home.

Wilf was a stray rescued from the streets of Cyprus by his loving owners Charlotte and Ben who live in Southampton.

Charlotte said: “We rescued Wilf from Cyprus earlier this year, from PAWS Dog Shelter, which is run by a team of extraordinary volunteers who work tirelessly to feed, provide veterinary care and show love to the forgotten dogs that find themselves at their gates."

Wilf was found by a British couple living in Cyprus, who welcomed him into their home temporarily until there was a space for him at the shelter.

PAWS took him in once there was a space and appealed for a home for him, as they do for all of their residents on their Facebook page.

Charlotte added: "Wilf caught our eye by chance and we knew then that he would be coming to the UK to live with us.

"Once he had been given his vaccinations and he had passed his ‘fit to fly’ test, he travelled via plane to Gatwick Airport where we met him for the first time.

"He settled in almost immediately, like he had been living with us for years.

"Wilf is now enjoying life with us here in Southampton.

"He’s such a friendly boy and loves attention - he even has his own Instagram account @i.am.wilfy.

"He’s truly made our house our home.”

Linden Homes has also donated £250 to the Southampton Blue Cross, to help towards caring for animals currently awaiting their forever home.

Jo Dixon, marketing manager for Linden Homes South, said: “Wilf is a beautiful and well natured dog – he was a pleasure to welcome to our show home and has a wonderful temperament considering his life earlier this year was very different. He’ll certainly make our new advertising campaigns for Boorley Park and Limewood Grange stand out.