Tiny Ottie, 22in tall, looks set to steal title of world’s smallest donkey
Owner Cheryl Griffiths, Cambs., is confident Ottie will scoop the prize when he turns one - as he's six inches shorter than the current record holder
OTTIE the donkey has something to bray about — he is expected to be recognised as the world’s smallest and so tiny he fits on this page in his actual size.
He is just 22in from head to foot, six inches shorter than the current Guinness World Record holder.
But he is only nine months old and Guinness officials will not take his measurements until he is one.
Cheryl Griffiths, of Sawtry, Cambs, is his proud owner and says his size does not affect his vocal ability.
She said: “He makes a lot of noise so I always know if someone is nearby.
"He’s like a guard dog.”
The current record holder is KneeHi, who is 25.29 inches just to his shoulders and lives in Florida.
But Cheryl, 48 has every confidence Ottie will soon take the title as he has stopped growing.
She said: “Donkeys do 90 per cent of their growing in the first year.”
A spokesperson for Guinness World Records said: “We would love to hear from his owner in March next year."
Tiny Ottie is even littler than he looks, according to the experts, as donkeys’ heights are only measured to the top of their shoulders, known as the withers.
Measured this way, Ottie, is just 19in tall - far shorter than KneeHi.
Ten more tiniest animals
Tiniest dog
Milly the Chihuahua (3.8in tall).
Aged six, is shorter than a can of Coke and as a pup fit into a teaspoon. Lives in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
Tiniest horse
Thumbelina, aged 16 (17in to base of neck).
Lives in St Louis, US, and is a regular on TV chat shows.
Her owners say: “She craves attention”.
Tiniest cat
Mr Peebles (6.1in tall).
Hails from Pekin, Illinois, and weighs only 3lb despite eating four meals a day.
He can snuggle up in a water glass.
Tiniest hamster
PeeWee (0.9in tall).
Only slightly taller than a 50p piece, but owner Mandy Bower of Keighley, West Yorks, says: “He’s a bit bossy.”
Tiniest cow
Manikyam (24.2in to base of neck).
Aged eight and lives in Kerala, India, where she is treated like a pet and has the run of her owners’ home.
Tiniest mule
Pedro (29in tall).
Donkey-horse cross of Consett, Co Durham.
Owner Maisey Watson says: “I can pick him up and give him a cuddle.”
Tiniest bison
Buffalo Bill (56in to hump).
Weighs 600lb.
Owner Terry Hatfield of Port Lavaca, Texas, says: “His daddy was 2,600lb and his mother 1,200.”
Tiniest ostrich
Tom Thumb (50in tall).
Most adult male ostriches are 6ft-9ft tall.
Tom lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and happily poses for photos.
Tiniest police dog
Midge (11in tall).
Chihuahua-rat terrier cross who has sniffed out narcotics for cops in Chardon, Ohio, for ten years. Weighs 8lb.
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Honeybee (0.5in long).
Trained to hover when they sniff them, with 98 per cent success.