Gelert

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Green Gelert May 2006

The Gelert is a dog-like creature that was added to Neopets on January 25, 2000 as the Polypup. On July 19th, 2000 the Polypup's name changed to Gelert and its look was updated, but that would not be the last time the Gelert changed its look.

On November 2nd, 2001 TNT added the Pick-The-Gelert Competition which featured 5 new designs for members to pick from. Both Gelerts #5 and #2 officially won (although the joke design, #3, actually had the most votes) so the two designs were combined and the final version (released on 29th November 2001) has not changed since.

About the Gelert

The Gelert is a distant cousin to the Lupe and are the embodiment of all that is fun and goofy.

They are joyous creatures, with a love of anyone and everything. If you are suffering from a long day at work, there is nothing better than coming home to a Gelert, who will do anything possible to make your day a happier day.

Legend and myth have been written about the brave deeds of Gelerts and such stories have made Gelerts a household name. If anything, their love of children make them excellent baby sitters. However, don't let their fun-loving nature fool you; like their Lupe cousins they're fiercely protective of their friends and family.

The Grave of the Greyhound

The Gelert is said to be based on the dog in the poem 'The Grave of the Greyhound' or 'Beth Gelert', where a greyhound, called Gelert, was slain by his master when he discovered the dog, covered in blood, at his infant's cradle. It later turned out that the blood was not of the master's son but that of a wolf who had tried to kill the boy, and that Gelert had really been protecting his master's heir.

A retelling of the story can be found here - many variations of it exist around the world. There is a page on the Neopets site itself dedicated to the story.

Colours

As of March 2009, the Gelert can come in 44 different colours:

Baby - August 28, 2002 Blue - Natural Brown - May 9, 2003 Camouflage - March 6, 2009 Checkered - ? Christmas - ? Cloud - ? Darigan - March 4, 2006 Desert - March 6, 2008 Disco - March 6, 2009 Electric - March 6, 2002 Faerie - January 19, 2001 Fire - June 12, 2002 Ghost - July 22, 2003 Glowing - August 1, 2003

Gold - March 7, 2001 Green - Natural Grey - August 9, 2004 Halloween - October 29, 2002 Island - February 19, 2003 Maraquan - February 1, 2005 Mutant - August 25, 2006 Orange - March 6, 2003 Pirate - March 6, 2007 Pink - September 20, 2002 Plushie - December 13, 2002 Purple - July 10, 2002 Rainbow - August 10, 2001 Red - Natural Robot - March 7, 2005

Royal - March 5, 2004 Shadow - ? Silver - January 14, 2003 Sketch - March 4, 2006 Skunk - ? Snow - March 6, 2007 Speckled - March 5, 2004 Split - March 6, 2008 Spotted - June 26, 2003 Starry - January 30, 2003 Strawberry - ? Striped - March 6, 2003 White - July 15, 2003 Yellow - Natural

Trivia

• As of October 2009, over 9 million Gelerts have been created, placing them 10th in popularity out of 54 Neopets. They are also featured in 115 different items.
• Gelert Day is on March 6th.
• In the Neopets TCG, Gelerts are affiliated with the element of Fire.

See also

• Famous Gelerts: Bruno, Celandra, Elwyn, Kanrik, Kaylee, Prince Tourin, Seradar, Tandrak Shaye, The Emperor, The Gelert Assassin, The Three, Vitri Sitol
• Games: Bruno's Backwoods Breakaway, Caption Competition, NeoQuest I, NeoQuest II

External links

• Neopets Description: The Gelert, What is a Gelert?
• Pronunication: Gelert - gell-ert, Gelerts - gell-erts
• Rainbow Pool: Gelert
• Neopedia: The Gelert Diaries
• NeoDeck: Rayn Trueshot, Gelert Pack
• Neopets TCG: Gelert Prince, Gelert Beast Hunter, Blue Gelert, Yellow Gelert, Gelert Wizard, Green Gelert, Gelert Mountain Climber, Red Gelert, Gelert Plushie, Green Gelert (2nd Print), Gelert Beast Hunter (2nd Print)
• Caption Competition: #4, #5, #31, #38, #70, #151, #161, #242, #244, #264, #384, #388, #479, #533, #535, #596, #632, #659, #684, #704, #741, #787, #791
• Help File: Are special battle items such as the gelert helm only usable by that species?
• Editorial: 5, 14, 16, 17, 24, 26, 28, 30, 40, 42, 43, 45, 59, 64, 73, 81, 82, 83, 86, 89, 94, 104, 108, 118, 126, 131, 153, 164, 176, 179, 189, 198, 223, 224, 226, 232, 261, 262, 265
• NeoGreeting: Under The Weather, Gelert Happy Halloween, Im MAD About You, Have an Eggciting Easter, Uni Miss You, Happy Chinese New Year!