Who needs the Westminster Dog Show or the AKC National Championship when you have a subscription to D Magazine?
All summer long, the pawed and clawed residents of North Texas duked it out online for a chance to be named “the cutest pet in Dallas,” which also got them a professional photoshoot, a shout-out on D’s Instagram, and a feature in our October print issue.
D’s annual competition had hundreds of submissions, all of whom fought valiantly to prove they had what it took to become America’s next top model Dallas’ cutest pet. The submission portals closed in June, then readers had a few weeks to scroll through all the would-bes and could-bes to vote for their reader’s choice. Meanwhile a distinguished jury of D Magazine editors, well-trained in picking the city’s superlatives, sequestered ourselves into an assembly of animal aficionados to determine the editors’ pick.
The competition was ruff. The contenders gave it their all. And the debate in the D Magazine offices was fierce. So without further ado, here are our winners for the cutest pets in Dallas.
Reader’s Choice: Sona
Sona is a 3-year-old Irish wolfhound and the reader’s choice. This scruffy bundle of joy is true to her Celtic roots. Her name means “happy” in Gaelic, and if she could bark in an Irish accent, she would. But, this good Galway girl is a gal of many interests. In her free time, she enjoys sunbathing and listening to Marc Anthony. She’s also an accomplished guard dog, defending her dad from the squirrels that loiter around their home. She’s a happy-go-lucky pooch, but you might need some extra luck to avoid a swipe from her tail, which has been known to put holes in the wall when Sona’s excited.
Favorite place to play: Her backyard, where she’s on “squirrel patrol”
Favorite trick: High-fiving, or high-pawing, without warning
Favorite treat: Fresh baby carrots
Editor’s Choice: Hades
Our editor’s choice winner is Hades, an eight-pound 18-month-old fluff ball. Like most mutts, he’s mixed with a little of everything. However, those big brown eyes and piranha underbite are pure bred good boy. Hades may be the king of the underworld, but this Hades is the king of his mom’s heart. The pair are attached at the leash. You can find them in matching outfits at MUTTS Canine Cantina or twinning in coordinating life vests while paddle boarding on White Rock Lake. This dude has ultimate laid-back, chill guy vibes, but as his mom’s emotional support animal, he’s a hard worker, too.
Favorite place to play: His backyard, MUTTS, White Rock Lake, Buckner Park—anywhere his mom is.
Favorite trick: Perching on your shoulder like a parrot, or jumping four feet into the air
Favorite treat: Beef jerky(!), chicken, and leftover pork chops
See Sona and Hades in the October issue of D Magazine. To admire past winners, check out the Hall of Famers here.
Author
