The Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards crowned its best-in-state winners Thursday after a competition that drew more than 25 million votes and more than 50,000 pet entries from across the country.
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias, aka Fluffy, hosted Thursday’s streamed awards show that revealed winners from all 50 states and introduced the finalists competing for the title of “Best Pet in the Nation,” which is presented by USA TODAY Pets. Iglesias was joined by co-host Monica McNutt, an ESPN sportscaster and NBA analyst, along with correspondents Chris Rose and Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin.
In Michigan, Tahiti, who hails from Monroe, took home first prize for the state. That means owner Sue Campbell pockets a $3,500 cash prize, plus tickets to an August awards ceremony. Drax of Livonia and Ricky of Grand Rapids came in third in the state. The second-place winner’s pet parent scores a $1,000 cash prize, and the third-place winner’s human companion takes home a $500 cash prize.
Following the announcement of the state winners, voting opened for the national “Best Pet in the Nation” competition at PetLoversChoiceAwards.com. The national winner will be announced in August and will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards trophy, recognition on USA TODAY Pets and additional prizes. A wildcard round, giving pets that did not advance another chance to earn a spot among the national finalists, was also launched. Wildcard voting runs through July 2.
The Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards have raised more than $1.4 million for Best Friends Animal Society, and “every paid vote cast throughout the competition directly supported the organization’s goal to save the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. Proceeds from national voting will continue to go to Best Friends Animal Society and support its collaborative work with 6,000 shelter and rescue group partners across the country.”
“Thanks to the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards and the millions of Americans who voted, Best Friends Animal Society has already been able to award grants to over 100 shelters and rescue groups across the country,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “Collaborations like this are key to saving pets’ lives and getting them where they belong: out of shelters and into loving homes.”
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: This Michigan pup could become the ‘best pet in the nation’
Reporting by The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
