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Ladies and gentlemen, pet lovers near and far, gather around for a pawsitively special occasion! It is with great pleasure that we announce the culmination of our much-anticipated 2023 Pet Contest. We have been overwhelmed with the sheer number of delightful entries, and we cannot express enough gratitude to each and every one of you for participating. The outpouring of affection for your beloved companions has truly touched our hearts.
Throughout this contest, we’ve had the privilege of feasting our eyes on an incredible array of enchanting creatures. From the wagging tails of adorable dogs to the majestic purrs of beloved kitties, from the vibrant plumage of beautiful birds to the delightful scurrying of hamsters and guinea pigs, from the adorable hop of bunnies to the gentle nature of bovines, our contest has showcased the immense diversity of our animal kingdom.
But alas, as much as we adore all the furry, feathery, and even scaley participants, we faced an immensely difficult task in selecting the winners. Each and every entry had its own unique charm and captured the essence of the special bond between humans and their animal companions. We also appreciate all those who voted, as this helped narrow our top contenders out of more than 425 nominees.
After much deliberation, the elves managed to select one grand prize winner and three outstanding runner-ups. Each of these winners received more than 250 votes from the Annalee community. Please know that it was an incredibly challenging decision, as the level of cuteness and charm displayed by all the entries was truly off the charts! So, without further ado, let’s reveal our winners and give them a round of applause for their exceptional pets!
Pet: Hermes, Axolotl
Pet Owner: Lydia K., Age 10 – Binghamton, NY
What Hermes’ Owner Had to Say: “This is Hermes, he is not your typical pet but he is the the perfect pet for me. He is an axolotl, which is a salamander. I first learned about them in school and decided I had to have one. So I did some research to learn how to care for them before asking my parents if I could have one as a pet. I received Hermes for my birthday from my parents, and he has been my best friend. He is actually a lot like me. He likes to swim, to eat, to interact sometimes — but not all of the time — and is really smart. I wonder if he has autism, too? I think he would be an amazing Annalee doll because he is so unique, and my mom told me that they have never made an axolotl before. His face is so cute, and it would be neat to see how he would be designed.”
Congratulations Lydia K., our 2023 Pet Contest Grand Prize Winner. You have captivated us with your extraordinary entry. Your mom is right! We have never made an axolotl design before and we are excited to work on an exclusive design in Hermes’ honor. As Lydia and her family explained, axolotls can regrow their limbs and even organs. How cool is that? Axolotls are truly masters of regeneration and they are studied by researchers who hope to enhance humans’ abilities to heal. Our design team will be reaching out to Lydia. As the Grand Prize Winner, Lydia will receive a $100 gift card to Annalee.com, a $50 donation to an animal non-profit rescue or shelter of her choice and the first design or “#1” of the first-ever Axolotl Limited Edition (coming sometime next year).
We wanted to recognize three remarkable runners-up. Congratulations on your outstanding entries! These pets have enchanted us with their photos and stories, and they stood out among the sea of adorable contestants. You should be incredibly proud of their undeniable charm and lovable antics. Each runner-up will receive a $50 gift card to Annalee.com and a $50 donation to an animal non-profit rescue or shelter of their choice.
About Pixie: Pixie Peekytoe is from Puerto Rico. She is a little smiling hairless dog now living it up in NH.
What Pixie’s Owner Had to Say: “Pixie Peekytoe is a rescue who absolutely loves to smile! She smiles about everything that makes her happy, which is, well, everything! She has her own Facebook page and people love her smile posts because she is such a unique looking, happy little girl who loves to spread joy! She would be THRILLED to become an Annalee doll because her mom (and her grandmom) have been collecting them since the 1960’s!”
About Noah: Noah is a fluffy gray rescue kitty who earned the title of “Little Lion.”
What Noah’s Owner Had to Say: “Noah was my first cat and my first fur-baby that I had as an adult. He was all my responsibility. I knew I wanted to adopt a rescue cat and had my heart set on a “fluffy gray cat”. I knew we would somehow cross paths and that I would just know. And that’s what happened. Walking into a pet supply store on a Saturday to waste some time before a family event, I saw a cat adoption event from a local organization. I walked past and saw him. Noah. The most handsome kitty I had ever seen and exactly as I had pictured in my mind. It was love at first sight, and I knew it was meant to be.
I asked the volunteer if I could hold him. As I sat down, he melted into my lap. I remember the excitement and love I felt for this ball of fur as he let me play with his soft little paws and kiss his fluffy face. The woman fostering him told me his story: Noah was living in a feral cat colony in a rough part of town. He had likely been dumped and found his way into this colony because it had a food source. His ripped ear showed that he had been trapped, neutered and returned to the colony, thinking he was feral. While his foster was feeding the cat colony one night, Noah was the one who followed her home. His friendly personality showed that Noah was not feral, but a stray. She said he was so friendly and loving despite his rough start. She estimated him to be about a year old.
The story was even more confirmation that I needed to have Noah in my life… to ensure him the life he deserved. Within a couple of weeks, the adoption process went through and he came home with me. The first year was a learning curve, as I had only ever had dogs prior. However, Noah was my pride and joy and our bond was solid.
Several months in, he started vomiting daily. Our vet was unsure what was going on and after many tests, she said he had something internal going on. We took him to the Pet ER for an ultrasound. They saw something, but the only way they would know what specifically was going on would be through exploratory surgery. I had just started my career fresh out of college as a teacher and money was tight. I made a promise to Noah that he would be provided the best life possible and I intended to keep that promise.
Surgery determined he had a gallstone, a rare occurrence in cats. They also determined Noah had a lifelong GI issue that was also a factor in the regular vomiting when it would flare up. Noah was in the Pet ER for two long weeks, but I visited him every day while he recovered on a feeding tube. The vet tech said that seeing me was the only time Noah would actually get up and be alert while he was there.
Two weeks and $8K later, Noah came home to finish healing. Many tears, prayers and sleepless nights in-between. I still remember several people telling me I was insane for spending that kind of money on a “cat”. I didn’t see it that way. This was my baby. Noah’s health had improved over the years and learning how to manage his long term GI issues has always been a work in progress. He has always needed regular vet visits for blood work checks and to make sure everything internally shows healthy. However, in the last couple of years, Noah’s GI condition became more difficult to manage with food alone and he now also requires daily medication to keep it in check.
In recent months, his blood work started showing signs of a diabetic cat. After several months of monitoring his blood, he was officially diagnosed as being diabetic; an entire new learning curve for both of us. Thankfully, Noah has responded well to his daily insulin and continues to be the loving and sweet guy he has always been. Our love and bond continues to grow and Noah rightfully earned the nickname “Little Lion” for his mighty personality and presence.
He continues to develop his fan base among all my friends and family. Noah is the one they want to see first when they come over. His personality shines as he saunters through the room trying to get snuggles, pets and treats from everyone before finally making his way to a spot where he can keep watch of everything with royal authority. Some people have even tried to get a selfie with Noah!
Coming home from a long day at work and seeing Noah sitting at the front door waiting to greet me is what I looked forward to most. I still feel honored that something could love me so much. Our evening snuggles on the sofa watching TV with his paws wrapped around my arm and his face planted up against me reminds me of how much love we have for each other and how truly special this little ball of fur is to me. Over the years, Noah has taught me so much about life and love. He has taught me faith that for all of the challenges in life, there is always hope that everything will work out because it always has. Noah has taught me about unconditional love because we have seen each other on our best days and our worst days, but we know we always get through it together. Here we are, 14 years later, though it feels like a lifetime. It’s crazy to think back to that first year and how he has continued to overcome all the odds despite the challenges he has been presented with in life. Who knew such strength and love could come in such a Little Lion?
A design idea for an exclusive Noah Annalee doll would be his simplistic royal sitting position on a cozy blanket with a copper collar name tag charm and silver bell that he always wears. To have an Annalee created of him would be an absolute dream and honor. Thank you for your consideration.”
Pet: Colt Nelson, Dog
Pet Owner: Todd & Shawnee
About Colt: Colt Nelson, aka FluffyButt and other names, is a beloved rescue pup who found his fur-ever home with his family in 2011.
What Colt’s Owner Had to Say: “Colt Nelson, formerly Kingston, was adopted in 2011 and has been a member of our family ever since. His ears and eyes don’t work like the used to anymore, since he’s an old man, but in his prime, he used to be the fastest poochie on the block. He has a curated collection of stuffed animals that he loves more than anything (other than his family). Nowadays he shares his toys with his younger brother and sister. His nicknames include: FluffyButt, PoochieCoo, PopcornPuppy, HoochAPooch, and ColTan. He considers himself a PuppyDoctor and likes to lick everyone’s wounds or bruises. He uses pillows and blankets like a hooman. His whole life, we thought he was part Corgi, until he did a DNA test that he got from SantaPaws in 2021 and learned he is mainly Chow Chow. He is the bestest friend anyone could have and we get to be the lucky ones to call him ours. ❤️ “
Annalee allowed each winner and runner-up to decide on a non-profit organization to receive a special donation in honor of their celebrated pet. This is a list of the organizations that received donations.
To everyone else who participated, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you. While we couldn’t award each and every one of you, we want you to know that we adore your furry, feathered, and scaly friends. Your images brought us endless joy and warmed our hearts. The love and companionship you share with your pets is truly remarkable.
Once again, we express our deepest gratitude for being part of this unforgettable contest. May the memories and cherished moments you’ve shared with your beloved companions continue to brighten your days. Check out all the entrants below.
