A TINY Hilton guinea pig that survived a brutal attack by two dogs that wiped out its family won best in breed at the Cavy West show on the weekend.

Last November two dogs leapt into Leanne Thwaite’s backyard, killing dozens of her prized guinea pigs and crippling her breeding business. Only five survived, and one was the tiny infant she named Miracle.

“He is the only survivor from a litter of four,” Ms Thwaite says. “His mother was also killed and so I have to hand-rear him.”

Despite being youngest in his class, Miracle won a best of breed award at the Cavy West show on the weekend at Hilton PCYC. He was the best ticked (his class), goulden agouti (his colour), and was awarded second best ticked cavy of the day.

Ms Thwaite says that feat is “quite tricky as he was against many adult animals” and he’s still a little-un.

• Leeanne Thwaite holds plucky  little survivor Miracle last November.

The attack happened in Fremantle but the dogs are suspected to be from Cockburn (just over the road). Despite Ms Thwaite providing CCTV footage of the dogs and detailed descriptions to both councils the animals remain at large.

An email Ms Thwaite got back from Cockburn council stated that since the attack happened in Freo it was up to its rangers to deal with it, as Cockburn rangers only dealt with “dogs causing concerns within the City of Cockburn”.

by DAVID BELL