This past April, 385 local pets were entered in our annual pet contest, and Style readers cast more than 8,000 votes. Get to know the 10 cats and dogs (and their siblings) who came out on top as well as a few more of our own honorable mentions!
1. Figgy Pudding
Puggle, 5 years old | @figgythepuggle
“Figgy Pudding (a.k.a., Figgy, Fig, Pig-Fig, Fig Newton) is a 5-year-old rescue puggle, who loves eating spinach, snuggling under blankets and getting the zoomies. She’s a real class clown—when we first met her at Peaceable Kingdom, she kept untying our shoelaces! These days, she’s the mascot for LickArcade on Twitch, and when she’s not gaming, you can find Figgy lounging in her favorite couch indentation with her most loved toy, a fuzzy pink sloth.”
– Lindsey Jancay & Christopher Lick
2. Elton
Miniature Dachshund, 5 months old | @eltonthedoxie
“Elton joined our family in March of this year. We adopted him from Bruce Wee & Co when he was two and a half months old, and he’s brought so much joy to our life! Elton is smart and very clever, and he’s learning obedience skills quickly for a puppy. Halle is the pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Slatington, and everyone in her congregation has fallen in love with Elton. He’s very friendly around new people and a wonderful companion. Due to his outgoing and affectionate nature, we look forward to (hopefully) training him to be a therapy dog. Elton will do almost anything for a treat, and his favorite pastime is snuggling with his mom and dad on the couch!”
– Halle & Josh Kluever
3. Mulligan
Sheltie, 4½ years old
“Mulligan is our high-energy happy puppy! He loves playing with and teasing his Sheltie brother Macgregor. Mully is an attention-scratch-seeking hog, but in return he loves to give kisses! There is never a dull moment with our Mully.”
– Richard Hart
4. Stormy & Brolly
Domestic shorthair siblings, 7 months old
“Stormy (a.k.a., Stormy Cakes) and Broly (a.k.a., The Legendary Super Saiyan) came into our lives at six weeks old and made our home complete. Stormy is shy, sweet and very vocal. Broly is curious, adventurous but relaxed at the same time. They both love the outdoors and enjoy naps together. They make a great addition not only to our household but to our family.”
– Pizango Brothers
5. Benny
3 years old
“Benny (a.k.a., Benny Boy) was found in our backyard, injured, hungry and looking for a home. We learned that Benny has disease called FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus). Cats with FIV can have a normal lifespan with excellent quality of life! We vowed to give him a home with the best cat life and spoil him plenty. He is loved by everyone who meets him. Benny loves to play (would make a great soccer player), snuggle, and puts on a show to make us laugh every day!”
– Meredith Sauers & Shawn Sottosanti
6. Oso
Rottweiler, 14 months old
“Oso is an adopted 14-month-old Rottweiler who loves to eat, loves to nap, enjoys belly scratches and going for walks and truck rides. He is a very silly puppy, who loves to show affection and loves running around in the yard.”
– Fred Williams
7. Andy
Saint Bernard, 4 years old | @andythesaintbernard
“Andy (a.k.a., Wubby) is the epitome of a gentle giant. He is the kindest, most loving boy with a heart of gold. Andy is very quirky and always funny! He enjoys long walks, ice cream trucks, Skippy Super Chunky Peanut Butter ONLY and cuddling with his Momma and Poppa! If you see him coming your way, be prepared for lots of drool!”
– Marissa & Cliff Weighknecht
8. Baxter
American Pit Bull Terrier / German Shepherd / Mountain Cur, 1½ years old
“Baxter’s mama was saved from a kill shelter while she was pregnant and went on to have 11 healthy pups. We rescued Baxter when he was four months old and we have never been the same since! He is the most energetic, rambunctious, playful, sweetest boy in the Valley. He is his truest and happiest self when running around outside (most likely being chased by his humans because he has an unidentified object in his mouth). To know him is to love him and we are truly lucky to have him in our lives!”
– Ana & Andrew
9. Louie
Longhaired Dachshund, 1 year old | @louie_the_dachshund
“Louie is the most loving and loyal little man, and we instantly became best friends from the moment I first met him at three months old. He is more than just a dog, he is a true companion. He has such a great personality and truly is just happy to be close to those who love him. But he’s definitely a mama’s boy!”
– Madison Michaels
10. Trixie & Bambi
Trixie: Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier & many more; Bambi: American Foxhound; 1 & 2 years old
“Trixie and Bambi were both adopted from PA Caring Hearts in Breinigsville. We were very lucky to get two wonderful dogs. Bambi is the shy one of the two, whereas Trixie has nonstop energy. You can usually find them snugging together. They brought so much joy to our house. There are many pets looking for a forever home.”
– Deborah Schuster
Honorable Mentions
They may not have won the popular vote, but these cuties certainly stole our hearts.
Published as “10th Annual Reader Voted Pet Contest” in the June 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.