Cutest pet in the Triangle? Nominate your dog or cat in our contest
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Readers submit photos to nominate the cutest dog and cat across the Triangle.
- News & Observer will select a Top 50 from submissions; public voting decides finalists.
- Submission deadline Oct. 20; voting rounds conclude and winners named Nov. 3..
Think you’ve got the Triangle’s most picture paw-fect pet?
Fetch the camera and unleash the cuteness, because we’re bringing back another paw-to-paw battle for our cutest pet contest.
Open to all furry friends around Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, we’re collecting nominations and everyone will vote to determine the cutest dog and cat in two separate polls.
Here are the details:
- We’ve extended our deadline for submissions to midnight on Monday, Oct. 20.
- Round 1 of voting will begin noon ET on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and ends at midnight on Sunday, Oct. 26. Votes will reset after each round.
- Round 2 of voting, with the Top 10 vote-getters, begins at noon ET on Monday, Oct. 27 and ends at midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
- The winners in each poll will be announced Monday, Nov. 3. Winners will be announced in a story posting by noon ET on newsobserver.com.
The winning cat and dog will then be submitted to a national poll that includes winners from fellow McClatchy papers across the U.S. That poll will be shared across all markets with voting starting on Monday, Nov. 10.
Once voting opens, readers may vote as many times as they wish.
Remember: This poll isn’t scientific — it’s for fun!
Ruff, ruff! How to enter our cutest dog contest
Readers should submit a photo of their dogs by filling out our Google Form. To enter, click here. (Note: If you’re having trouble with the link on a mobile device, press and hold the link, then select “open link.”)
Meow! How to enter our cutest cat contest
Readers should submit a photo of their cats by filling out our Google Form. To enter, click here. (Note: If you’re having trouble with the link on a mobile device, press and hold the link, then select “open link.”)
By submitting a photo, you agree that your entry and images may be published online or in print by The Charlotte Observer and its parent company McClatchy News, and that you accept our Terms of Service.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 11:59 AM.