2025 Pet Photo Contest

We love our pets and it’s clear y’all do too! This year, our Central Oregon Pets Photo Contest had over 450 photos submitted and then almost 2,000 votes in 15 categories. Thank you to everyone who submitted photos of your pets and to everyone who took the time to vote for this year’s winners. We would like to give a special shout-out to our friends at High Desert Frameworks for their generous sponsorship of this year’s photo contest and for awarding each winning pet (and their owner) with a free print. Without further ado, enjoy these cuties!

Age: 7
Breed: Mixed breed (rescue from a shelter)
Favorite treat: Peanut butter and sockeye salmon
Favorite activity: Trail runs along the Deschutes, paddle boarding and backpacking in the Cascades

Charlie is a world traveler and has been to 18 countries! She lived out of a van in Europe last year (with her parents). She knows the word “treat” in six different
languages.

Age: 4
Breed: Long-haired German Shepherd
Favorite treat: Cheese but he won’t turn down a hamburger patty
Favorite activity: Going on hikes where he can a play in the river or roll in the snow

He’s such a handsome guy with all that hair and has a sweet temperament to match.

Age: 6 months old
Favorite treat: Cheese
Favorite toy: Stuffed floppy raccoon with squeaker for Jack; leopard-patterned snake plushie for Zoey
Favorite activity: Playing fetch and stealing socks for Jack; snuggling on laps and stealing socks for Zoey

Jack always wants to know what is going on and wants to be at the center of the action. He is always ready and eager to show off the tricks he has learned, even when not prompted. Zoey is very affectionate and wants to be at your side or on your lap most of the time. Zoey’s fur is extra soft making her a wonderful and cuddly companion.

Age: 6
Breed: Bernese mountain dog
Favorite toy: Trixie’s Mad Scientist puzzle game
Favorite activity: Running errands with mom

Kit makes extremely intense eye contact and will pet you back when you pet her. She must be the leader on any hike and absolutely loves to roll in the dirt and be told she’s pretty.

Age: 5
Breed: Yellow Labrador
Favorite treat: Salmon skin from the neighbors
Favorite toy: Yellow banana toy

Stanley loves to bring his stuffed animals on walks/to friends’ houses. He wants to make sure everyone knows he has a toy to share!

Age: 14ish
Breed: Shepherd mix
Favorite treat: Salmon
Favorite activity: Protecting the backyard and his sisters

He jumped out a second story window once (he was fine) and also slipped down a waterfall years ago — what a thrill seeker!

Age: 2
Breed: American Shorthair cat
Favorite treat: Catnip-flavored Greenies
Favorite toy: It’s on a wand and is called “corn guy”
Favorite activity: Listening to music in front of the fireplace

He enjoys bird watching and makes different sounds for different birds.

Age: 4
Breed: Bichon mix (?)
Favorite treat: Small, medium and large carrots
Favorite toy: Tennis ball, which we can’t say around him or else he’ll flip out

He loves to sleep on our windowsill during the day with his face smushed against the glass. Also, his paws turn outward like a little duck, so when he runs he has a cute little waddle.

Age: 1
Breed: Lionhead
Favorite treat: Carrots
Favorite activity: Chasing his girlfriend

He stands up tall like a prairie dog and sniffs the air!

Age: 4
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Favorite treat: The cookies that the beertenders at On Tap throw across the counter to him
Favorite activity: Fetching in the forest, wallowing in mud puddles or doing whatever his pawrents are up to

Otis comfort snores. He snores loudly when he’s sleeping, but also when he’s relaxed and wide-awake while being pet.

Age: 4
Breed: Golden Retriever
Favorite treat: Natural salmon treats
Favorite toy: Playing with a stuffed fish with his brother, Finn
Favorite activity: Being set free on trails

He’s just the sweetest boy. A little anxious, but a true “people dog.” He just wants to do whatever you’re doing and be where you are.

Age: 6
Breed: Thoroughbred ex-racehorse
Favorite toy: Red ball
Favorite activity: Being turned out in the huge pasture with his best horse friends Baby Girl and Charlie

I adopted him off the racetrack, giving him a chance at a second career/life after the track. Many racehorses end up in quite unfortunate situations and he is one Lucky Luke!

Age: 7.5
Breed: Petit Brabançon (Brussels Griffon)
Favorite treat: She’s a CHEESE-hound
Favorite activity: Meeting new pet friends, hiking Misery Ridge at Smith Rock and cuddling

She’s so generous with her love that she makes every human and pet feel like the most special being on the planet. She’s also got a real thing for getting her little booty spanked (lovingly).

Age: 13.5

Breed: Samoyed
Favorite toy: Hedgehog

Favorite activity: Going on walks in our neighborhood and saying hi to all the kids, plus getting treats from neighbors

Pickle was a champion show dog her first few years. When I got her from the breeder at three, she had a chance to become a sled dog. We participated in a number of local races in the skijor category, pulling me on cross-country skis.

Age: 3
Breed: Cairland Terrier (Cairn terrier x West Highland Terrier)
Favorite treat: Prefers affection over treats (unless you have bacon)

Favorite toy: Whatever toy his sister has

Favorite activity: Hiking, he is quite a “path finder”

He thrives on attention and social interaction (visibly saddened when people don’t acknowledge him) yet he also enjoys moments of solitude to reflect on life’s mysteries.

Age: ?
Breed: Mini-Australian Shepard
Favorite treat: Prayer’s Dog Biscuits Favorite toy: Miss Piggy
Favorite activity: Playing with her friends at Woof To Wow and doing her job as a therapy dog at the Ronald McDonald House

She has a huge overbite and so her tongue is always hanging out when she smiles, which is all the time! She also makes a cute chortle noise when she is getting loved and excited.

A BIG thank you to our photo contest sponsor High Desert Frameworks

This article appears in Central Oregon Pets Spring 2025.