National Pet Month announced 11 year old Bethany Westoby as the winner of this year’s creative writing competition for children. Teaming up with Puffin, National Pet Month called on the nation’s children to get their creative juices flowing and send in stories of the adventures and challenges they have faced with their pet.

The inspiration behind the competition was the latest book by author Megan Rix, ‘The Great Escape’, which told a tale of the plight of London’s pets as the nation prepared for the Second World War. The story follows a lively Jack Russell, a faithful Collie and a feisty ginger tom cat as they make a daring escape from being put down across a country preparing for battle. In ‘A Canine Confession’ Bethany told the story of how a Collie endured a difficult start to end up in a loving home surrounded by farm and fields.

As the prize, Megan Rix visited Bethany’s school in Southend to talk about the book. The children were able to participate in a Questions and Answers session with the author. National Pet Month Chairman, Philip Sketchley says “Bethany’s story was beautifully written and it reflects how the subject of animals and pets can really stimulate. We hope the children of Hamstel Junior School were inspired by Megan’s talk.” Megan Rix was delighted to meet the children of Year 6 at Hamstel Junior School and hear about their pets adding “Bethany is a talented writer and I hope to read more from her in the future."

Read the story by Bethany