From a therapy-dog-in-training to a cat with extra thumbs to a bilingual axolotl, nine pets across five species have been announced as finalists for the first-ever Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) “Cutest Pets on Parliament Hill” contest.
“We received a lot of phenomenal entries from parliamentarians, senators, staffers, and members of the press gallery on Parliament Hill, who submitted photos and some amazing stories about their beloved pets,” CAHI said in a statement. “Our panel of judges had the incredibly difficult task of narrowing it down to the top three in each category.”
Canadians are invited to vote for their favourite in three categories: Cutest Dog, Cutest Cat, and Cutest Other Pet.
Finalists were selected by:
- Linda Jacobson, BVSc., MMedVet, PhD, president and treasurer of the Canadian Animal Shelter & Community Medicine Association (CASCMA);
- Karen Ward, DVM, chief veterinary officer at the Toronto Humane Society;
- Lyall Martin, supervisor and animal control officer for Six Nations of the Grand River Territory Animal Control Services; and
- Laura-Lee Kelly, community health representative with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
“Our non-partisan panel was made up of experts who spend their days surrounded by cute pets, working hard to improve the lives of Canadian dogs, cats, and other pets in communities that face challenges with access to veterinary care,” CAHI says.
Will the winner be Sprocket? Monsieur Rameau? Petunia the regal chicken?
Voting closes June 5 at 9 a.m. EST. For more, click here.
