The following story was submitted in the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest. The top three finishers received $500 in cash, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here!

Thorn the hedgehog is one of the friendliest critters around! He is getting to be an old man since he is almost 4. His three siblings, a human 4-year-old and two weenie dogs, think Thorn is their own baby and absolutely adore him! Thorn’s mommy is a member of the Hedgehog Welfare Society and has rescued hogs a couple of times.

PHOTO: KYLIE THOMAS

One of Thorn’s favorite activities is going to a local children’s garden in South Florida with his human sister.

He loves running around in the plants and all the attention that he gets from people. However, he gets sleepy doing things during the day since he is nocturnal and is awake at night.

PHOTO: KYLIE THOMAS

Thorn is very festive like the rest of his family. He has holiday fleece liners and pouches for his cage and participates in activities such as dressing up for Halloween and visiting Santa Claus. He even has his own mini Christmas tree and stocking! Every Easter, he gets a basket full of toilet paper rolls, which are one of his favorite toys to play with.

Thorn loves eating his hedgehog kibble and snacking on strawberries, eggs and mealworms. Thorn’s cage is pineapple-themed and he loves to nap in his pineapple hammock. Pineapples remind him of himself - spiky on the outside but sweet on the inside!

PHOTO: KYLIE THOMAS

This story was submitted by Kylie Thomas in support of The Hedgehog Welfare Society. To read other stories from the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest, click here!