Everyone is anxious for the midterm elections—they're just four days away!—but we have one race that we can call. After an exciting competition with more than 1,000 candidates—including campaigns from cats, dogs, rabbits, turtles, fish, birds, a chicken, a horse, a chinchilla, an alpaca—the voters have decided on NYC's Cutest Pet. And it's Shelby.
Shelby!
Shelby is a boxer and pit bull mix from Islip Terrace, Long Island, who rode to victory with the succinct campaign platform "Food, food, food." She was rescued as a puppy in Missouri earlier this year and arrived at her forever home in May. Her humans, Laura and Joseph Morgillo, said that she was only five pounds at first but think Shelby must be around 30 pounds now!
Shelby will use the prize, a $250 Amazon gift certificate, to help Mac's Mission, a non-profit dog rescue organization in Missouri that, yes, rescued Shelby. Mac's Mission works with "pitbulls and underdogs"
We will be meeting Shelby (and Laura and Joseph) soon, but we also wanted to mention some of the top contenders—runner-up Mochi the mixed breed dog from Manhattan and top cat, Shiro of Queens!
Mochi on the left, Shiro on the right
Given that we've enjoyed seeing all the candidates' photographs and reading their platforms, we're also presenting some honorable mentions, too:
Best Platform (About Needing A Literal Platform): Lupo, the mini dachshund from the Upper West Side, who campaigned on "The Couch is Too Damn High"
Lupo is into stairs
Amazing Hero In A Half-Shell: Newman
Newman!
Most Colorful Candidate: Maui the conure.
Rainbow!
Blurriest Photo: Sylvie aka Cindy Crawford (shouldn't that be Cindy Pawford, though?)
Is that a cat or a mound of floof?
Best Pet To Invite To A Party: Paco the bearded dragon
Great hat, too
Best Pet To Host A Party: Penelope the Golden Retriever
When is your next card party, Penelope?
Best Couch: Tikka the plott hound/whippet
What a couch!
Best Cat In A Hat: Malcolm
Malcolm's platform was "nine lives matters"
Best Bird In A Hat: Sky the Indian ringneck parakeet
So stylish
Best Dog In A Hat AND A MATCHING SWEATER: Caesar the Welsh corgi
Those eyes!
Most Cultured: Brigadoon the Newfoundland
This dog gets art
Best Angry Bird: Peter Carlos the Welsummer
Peter Carlos
Awesomest Alpaca: Ronald the Alpaca
Ronald rules
Best Name: Ruth Bader Ginspurrg
Notorious C.A.T.
Best Computer Accessory: Chi Chi the chinchilla
Where's the keyboard vacuum?
Best Catitude: Samson, the semi-feral cat
Totally knows the way around a bodega
Most Resembling A Stuffed Animal: Buckley the cavapoo
Real?
Best Therapy Animal In Training: Mr. Dobbs the Ukrainian Lekvoy
Mr. Dobbs
Best Underbite: It was a tough one but Xena the bulldog
How could you say no to this face?!?
Most Pettable Rodent: Rosie the Guinea Pig
Not your kid's school pet
Best Bowtie: Goobie the lionhead rabbit
Snazzy
Best French Cuffs: Teddy the Norwich
But where are his pants?
Most Relatable: Thomas Jefferson the exotic shorthair
Very "Me in the morning," "Me in the middle of the day," and "Me at night"
Most Likely To See The Cure (Or Call Your Manager): Dylan the Yorkie
Just Like Heaven
Most Ready To Visit The Polling Site: Saltie the lab/dingo mix
Go vote
Most Ready To Welcome Your "I Voted Sticker": Avocado the tortie
Go vote
You can see all the terrific pets that entered the competition here—and you should definitely get ready for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6.
