We at Cary Magazine love our pets, and from all the amazing photos we received for this year’s Pet Parade, we can tell you do, too! Thank you to all of our readers for taking the time to go online and submit your furry family members. Pets are so special, and we loved shining a light on each and every one of them!

GryffinGryffin is a 7-year-old Australian shepherd who loves going anywhere with dad (me). We’ve renamed Saturday to GryffinDay: his big day out. We start out with training class at Autumn Winds Agility Center (we compete in agility — he loves it!). Then it’s off to Vicious Fishes for a pup cup for him and a coffee for me, followed by a nice walk at Pleasant Park in Apex. Next, we visit mom at Simple Gifts Community Garden before ending with errands and lunch at a dog-friendly restaurant. — Mark Fordham

BelleBelle is an Australian Labradoodle with a big heart. She is a sweet dog who loves cheese. — Siya (Bear) Patel

MytziWe adopted Mytzi almost four years ago as a rescue of 5 months old. She is the sweetest, most loving cat, but still very shy when other people come over. She is also extremely smart, and does something I thought only dogs do — she plays fetch! She will bring a foil ball in her mouth, drop it on my lap, wait for me to throw it, fetch it, and bring it back over and over! — Rosemary Driver

Phoebe DorisPhoebe Doris came into my life eight years ago at the age of 3. She had been surrendered to a pet adoption facility after being in three other homes, and I was blessed to have found her. Phoebe Doris is a sweet, spunky, and loveable Morkie who doesn’t know a stranger. She loves children and adults of all ages. As a Certified Therapy Dog, she visits patients and visitors at Rex Hospital, bringing smiles and joy to everyone she meets! — Judy Gibbs

Bella and RomanBella (blonde, 6) and Roman (black, 8) are rescues from Saving Grace and best friends! They love going to the downtown Cary dog park and playing with their friends. They also enjoy lying in the sunshine on our back deck in Cary. They are the best dogs anyone could ever ask for! Adopt, don’t shop! — Allie Johnson

JosieJosie is a sweet, spunky 1-year-old red golden retriever who lives in a full house with an older pup, kitty, and three little boys. She adds a lot of joy! — Mallori Openchowski

AlexI adopted Alex from a friend when he was just a baby, and now he’s 13! He is like my son. He was a mama’s boy until I met Shannon (now my amazing husband) in 2021, and now he goes back and forth. He is smart, gets groomed by mommy, and loves kisses! Can’t wait to see his first celebrity appearance here! Love you, Alex! — Veronica Williams

AngelAngel is a sweet great Pyrenees and golden retriever mix. I adopted her from Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue at the age of 2 years. She has been a very happy girl since! — Joe Santa Lucia

WillowWillow is an exotic short-haired, and she is the friendliest kitten. — Dan Mays

LukeLuke is my 3-year-old poodle-shih tzu. He craves belly rubs and loves to kiss you. A few silly things he does that will make you giggle: Paw shaking, dancing, and walking with a wiggle. He steals anything he can but will gladly give it back. All you need to do is offer him a delicious snack. Only 13 pounds, but bold and brave, so he needs no luck, Always ready to challenge a big dog or UPS truck. He loves running, jumping, and playing with a toy, But snuggling under the covers with you brings him the most joy. — Laurie Marc

ChilliMeet Chilli, our 1-year-old pup that joined our family in April via Best Friend Pet Adoption. Chilli is a snuggle bug that loves to go for car rides and walks around Lake Johnson. We get the biggest kick out of watching her run around the backyard when she gets a case of the zoomies. This girl can fly! — Lisa Saad

CadiCadi, pronounced “KD,” is an 8-year-old Australian shepherd who loves people. She served as a certified pet therapy dog and volunteered at UNC hospital in Holly Springs and at a local elderly home center. She loves her chore of taking recycling to the bin. One of her other loves is sitting still as a statue and watching bunnies encountered on walks. — Donald Chaney

ChaseChase’s playful spirit is matched only by his capacity for love and affection. He is a cherished member of our family. His presence brings a special kind of joy that is both heartwarming and uplifting. Each day with Chase is filled with moments of pure delight, and his boundless energy and loving nature are a constant reminder of the simple, yet profound, happiness that a dog can bring into one’s life. Every day is an adventure, filled with laughter, love, and an abundance of wagging tails! — Giselle and James

Skarlet and GraySkarlet and Gray enjoy going for walks and sleeping on the couch. They are great companions who enjoy getting blueberries in the morning and eating their vegetables at dinner time, especially green beans. — Kelly Foster

Maggie MagnoliaMaggie is a sassy Chihuahua but so sweet. Unlike many Chihuahuas, she mostly just wants to cuddle. She’s the best companion and loves to go bye-bye, the color pink, and a good treat. — Wendy Vaughan

TryxeeTryxee spent his first year living behind a shopping center, until one day he walked in the back door of the store. I took him home that day, and he lived a good life for 20 years. Every day I’d walk my dog in the evening. One day Tryxee decided to come along with us. This continued for years. He was the talk of the neighborhood. People would say, “Is that a CAT?” The kids would all come up and ask to pet him. He was the sweetest cat ever and very friendly to all! — Margo Ankeny

BoudicaWe adopted Boudica as a puppy from Saving Grace in 2021. She is as sweet as a Lab but also has some terrier tendencies. Her special skill is capturing and killing bugs. Boo loves sunbathing, stalking squirrels, and destroying indestructible toys. She also frequents the South Carolina beaches, Cary Camp Bow Wow, and Cary PetSmart. @booboudica — Lori Mills

BuddyBuddy is a happy 11-year-old Welsh corgi who enjoys running, playing ball, and fetching his favorite Grogu stuffed animal. — Dominic Caristo

MaxwellMax is just shy of 15 years and never loses his sense of adventure. He loves to wear his red bow tie all the time, looking quite dapper and ready to travel! So when he saw my clothes on the bed for an upcoming vacation, he wanted to make sure his ticket and passport were ready. I almost hated to tell him his staycation was at the kennel! — Susan Randolph

IgalIgal is a future guide dog. My family is a puppy raiser, which means we help with basic training so that Igal can become a guide dog to help a blind person have increased independence or provide a veteran with enhanced mobility and renewed independence. In the meantime, we get to enjoy this guy. He loves long hikes and playing fetch with his toys, but his favorite thing to do is training to be a guide dog. When that vest comes out, he is super excited and always ready to get to work. — Jeannie Morello

ArtemisWe adopted Artie years ago. She is cute, smart, and a whackadoodle. In a fight-or-flight situation, this little 30 pounder isn’t going anywhere — unless a trash barrel “jumps out to surprise her,” and then she will politely back off. She has quite a cache of tricks and an extremely large vocabulary. Her routine is solid, so don’t try to mess with her pancake day or forget her favorite treats: beans and carrots! — Karen Muffley

Butters, Logan and OliverLogan (gray) is 7 years old and came from a breeder in Lenoir. He is sweet and loyal. Butters (tan) is 3 years old, came from the same breeder, and she rules the house. Oliver (white) is around 1. He is our latest addition and was rescued through Black Tie Boston Rescue. We met the rescue during the latest Apex PeakFest. Oliver is kind. — Patricia Skulavik

PicassoPicasso is a Chinese crested powderpuff mix. I had gone to the Carolina Poodle Adoption Center in South Carolina to see another dog, who had already been adopted, so they brought out Picasso instead. After about 20 minutes of ignoring me, he jumped up on my chair and laid his head on my lap. That was all I needed! As I was leaving with him, they told me in the two years he was there, no one had ever shown any interest in him. He’s intelligent, loving, calm, and rarely ever barks. He’s the best! — Margo Ankeny

Melly and ChitaWhen the dog days of summer get too hot, we like to cool our paws in the kiddie pool. But mostly we make sure to give our full attention when our pet parent asks, “Wanna taco ’bout it?” — MG

Rucker and BoeingRucker and Boeing are our English Labrador retrievers. Rucker is 3 years old and Boeing is 9 months old, but they both have the same mom. They love kids, adults, dogs, cats, and especially Trouble, our neighborhood donkey. Rucker is working toward his therapy dog certification and is already a Canine Good Citizen and advanced trick dog. Boeing is following in her big brother’s footsteps working on her first trick dog title. They are an amazing part of our family. — Stacey Bishop

Lilly MaeLilly Mae is a rescue shih poodle we adopted when she was 10, and now she’s 15 years old. We were told by her prior family that she was not in a good place. She is truly a rags to forever home girl. She has anxiety and bites. We have difficulty getting her groomed, but despite all this, we love, love her! — Elise Huie

SesameOnce a carefree kitten, Sesame has grown to become a loving and loyal big kitty. He goes where I go and loves to snuggle with his mommy on the couch. He is always there when I need him. — Siyao Wang

BentleyIn 2011 we adopted Bentley as a puppy from Moore Lab Rescue (now Peak Lab Rescue). His mother was a yellow Lab, but he grew into a golden retriever clone. He has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen award and is a retired certified therapy dog who brought smiles and companionship to many over the years. Despite some aging issues, Bentley will be 13 in December and continues to be a happy, loving boy. We will be forever grateful that he came into our lives! — Laurie Ray

MauiMaui loves exploring new places in Cary and Raleigh. When she’s not on an adventure, she’s sleeping. This year she’s dressing up as a clown for Halloween! For more of Maui’s adventures, follow her on Instagram @MauiTheMonster. — Dana Duvernay

PiperPiper was rescued from the high desert of Southern California and traveled with us when we relocated to Cary a few years ago. She’s now part of our family in the Raleigh area, where she has a new best friend, a kitten named Belle, another rescue from Purr Partners. Despite Piper’s limited vision due to SARDS, she loves exploring the local greenways and parks. We use a carriage to help her enjoy longer walks, with Bond Park and Downtown Cary Dog Park being her favorite spots. — Raleigh Rob

AtlasAtlas is a rescue pup! He’s been with me for six years, but I think he’s close to 8 years old. He’s been such a blessing to me. I lost my previous dog to cancer, so Atlas was my savior. I think we rescued each other. He loves his cat brother and any stuffed animal that looks like a cat! — Billie Roseman

Alfie and FreddieAlfie and Freddie, silver Persians, are fluffy, loving, and bonded brothers. They are a delightful addition to my husband’s and my life. Their personalities are unique. Freddie is more laid back much of the day, though he does get the zoomies. Alfie is the adventurous, mischievous one who can climb to high places with his long legs unusual for a normally short-legged breed. They love watching birds, bees, and butterflies from our windows across the whole back of the house. — Sandra Joyce

JoJoJoJo is a 9-year-old Boston terrier. He thinks he is a human and will join you if you are eating, then will leave you when the food is gone. He is our third Boston terrier, and we love the breed. He loves wearing bandanas to look snazzy and is the best napper on the planet. — Nikki Sargent

MaggieMaggie is our 12-year-old baby who was a rescue from Saving Grace. People ask, “What kind is she?” to which we reply, “the cute kind.” Probably a mix of corgi/sheltie/dachshund/Jack Russell ... but who knows! She is the sweetest and literally howls for joy each time we arrive home, whether we have been gone for 5 minutes or 5 hours. She clearly speaks with her eyes, always showing us unconditional love. — Jane Pinzauti

GigiGigi is a 16-year-old papillon. Her eyesight and hearing are not so good, but she loves to run to the kitchen to wait for her treat after potty time, and then an awesome nap! — Rosanne Petraroia

DaisyThis is Daisy, our schnauzer. We lost her to a blood disorder two years ago. She was 10 years old. We miss her so much! She enjoyed playing with her toys, running and romping in the rare snow, and playing hide and seek looking for treats. — Suzie Douglas

OnyxOnyx is a 2-year-old giant schnauzer sitting at 92 pounds. He is full of life and one of the silliest but most protective dogs out there. He loves to solve puzzles, do nose work, play with his toys, and most of all sleep with his favorite human. Onyx loves to communicate with his buttons, with his favorite word being “treat,” of course. Even though his breed is known to be guardians of their home and territory, I have one goofy, sweet, loving pet with the best beard known to man! — Shanelle Edmonds

GoldieGoldie started out as the runt of her litter and has grown to 90 pounds at 2 ½ years old. Goldie has a big heart and still plays like a puppy. She has had lots of agility and obedience training. She travels with us wherever we go to the Outer Banks and other fun places. Goldie loves going to doggy daycare to play and swim with her friends. She is our best friend and is full of love. She never met a stranger and particularly loves to be hugged and petted by children. — Marilyn Slinkman

Jack BensonJack Benson is a dashing young fellow, always dressed for success in his tuxedo coat and tail! He is very intelligent and will do tricks on command like sit and high-five. He is the oldest of three and also the bossiest! Jack loves food, and if you’re eating, please know he’s always your plus one. Jack is also an opportunist and will swipe a Brussels sprout or string bean off your plate if you’re not looking! He does love his veggies. At night, you can find Jack cuddled up next to me to end the day. — Kelly Winner

SmokeySmokey is a 5 ½-pound male merle pug, so his right eye is half blue! He loves his new home and enjoys trying to convince his new sister, Luna (a 4-year-old fawn pug) to try and play! — Jonah Turner

Harvey Scarvie Barbie Boo-BooHarvey is a rescue and 7 years young. She’s a fighter (recovering from a tumor and thyroid disease). She LOVES her family and gets to come to work with her mom and dad every day at Smith & Smith, CPA to see all kinds of friends, especially the mailman. Her name has grown over the years to include Harvey, her given name (named after Steve Harvey on Family Feud), Scarvie (she had a big scar from surgery), Barbie (little kids can’t say her name), and Boo-Boo (her nickname). — Becca Smith

GordonGordon is small and full of a lot energy! He is part King Charles cavalier and part yorkie. We got him last year, and although we will always miss the English Lab we lost in 2020, Gordon has filled our home and hearts with a lot of smiles and comfort. — Meg Matthews

CopleyCopley is a 10-year-old ragdoll cat with a loving and occasionally spicy personality. He loves to spend time with his paw-rents, and make sure they are adhering to his strict routine of snuggles, treat provisions, and meal times. He always lets you know how he is feeling, even if it means waking you up at 4 a.m. to let you know he is lonely and would like some pets. After a decade of having Copley in our lives, we have realized it is his world, and we are simply living in it. — Alexander Gottlieb

Cookie and TrooperThe New York Public Library has lions named Patience and Fortitude guarding the entrance. Our house has the porch Pyrenees Cookie and Trooper guarding the front door. They were adopted through Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue in 2014. After eight years of Texas ranch life, they now are enjoying a cushy retirement in suburban North Carolina. Cookie is 12 years old and Trooper is 10 years old. They are the most gentle giants. — Alison Sinsky

GraceyGracey is a West Highland terrier and a total delight! Energetic, playful, loves everyone, and she is also the smartest dog we have had. She loves to watch TV, especially the animal channel. And it is not unusual for her to fly down the stairs when she hears a jingle for an upcoming commercial that features animation. She keeps us entertained! — Jim and Donna MacDonald

BanditBandit is a fun-loving husky who turns 5 in November. He loves playing at the park with his fur friends! — Emily Jache

BellaMiss Bella is a magical bundle of joy! I bought her in September of 2012, which means she is now senior, like me. Her talent is paw-dancing. She sits on her hind legs and flaps her paws up and down. She loves the attention she receives, especially if it is a treat or a sweet belly rub. Bella is also a designated support animal. Her favorite toy is her bear, and her favorite vacay is with her family to Lake Gaston or Emerald Isle. — Mary Oliver

Butch and SundanceButch and Sundance are covid kitties. They “guard” the house and watch all squirrels, birds, and Amazon delivery people to ensure our safety. They love to knock over every single thing on the counter, thus the lack of glass in our house. The boys are super annoyed when we go away or leave the room; after covid, they want to be with their humans at all times … even if we annoy them. We live in their house, after all! — Kelly Gascoigne

JasperJasper is a 13-year-old domestic medium hair. He was rescued in 2011 from a shelter right next to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jasper loves to snuggle and being brushed. He also enjoys going on the front porch with his family to pretend he’s an outdoor cat. He had a lot of fun “hunting” the cicadas this spring. — Laura Croyle

MokaMoka (aka wiggle-butt) was TRULY one of one! We were blessed to save her from the animal shelter in 2016. She had the passion for playing fetch, chasing a rabbit or squirrel, or even late nights protecting the neighborhood from the foxes. She was fierce, protective, and loyal but with the softest heart. She was either in a deep sleep snoring, or at highest intensity retrieving balls, running in the fields, or jumping in the water! We adore you forever! — Matthew David Gaebel

PebblesPebbles has been an extraordinary addition to our family. She brings joy to our everyday lives and is always happy to see us when we get back from work, school, etc. Every time one of us is having a bad day, Pebbles is always there to cheer us up. Whenever we look at her, all we see is a little bundle of joy waiting to play. When friends come to the house, Pebbles is always so excited to see them. She is our first pet, and she couldn’t be better. — Fatima Banda

MaggieMaggie is a 9-year-old who likes her belly rubs! Her silliness is to have me keep her company while she has her dinner. She greets anyone who enters the house. She loves the attention and competes with her sister, a papillon, for it! — Rosanne Petraroia

CooperEach morning, Cooper goes to the bus stop to greet the neighborhood kids. He gets lots of love and pats, and the kids all love to shake hands with Cooper! Cooper is also known as Cooper Dooper, Ear, and Butter Man — because he steals butter any chance he gets! He is a very sweet boy and loves his humans. — Emerson Pauley

HankThis is Hank! Hank is almost 4 years old with a lot of puppy left in him and a heart the size of his big head. He is an incredibly sweet boy who will always greet you with a toy. Hank loves to play ball, go on walks … until he doesn’t, snuggle up on the couch, and spend time at MOSA Pet Spa with his dog friends while I work. I often think when I drop him off “at school” in the mornings what I’m doing wrong to not have his life of luxury. Oh, to be a chocolate Lab! — Kaitlyn Wheeler

MiaMia is the sweetest, most smiley pup you’ll ever meet! We adopted her from a rescue back in May with no real idea of her breed or how big she would get. Her DNA results show that she is a mixture of 15 breeds(!!), so we still don’t have a great idea about what she’ll look like as an adult. We do know that she has brought so much joy to our family and she is the perfect mix for us! — Melanie Taylor

Chief and BabeI got Chief and Babe back in 2013 from a local shelter. We think they are part Maine Coon and they’re siblings. They are two of the most adorable lap cats I’ve ever had! I worried about them when we would leave town for vacations. When my daughter wasn’t available, I found out how hard it is to find cat sitters that really love cats. So I started my own cat sitting service, Cool Cats Professional Cat Sitting, LLC. Now I never have trouble finding a cat sitter! — Lora Rouse

PorshaPorsha loves to go on walks and likes to ride in the car and go shopping. She is 11 months old and very active and sweet. Just look at her face. How can you resist kissing her? — Ann Stephenson

BingI rescued my baby Bing from a rental house on my work’s property in Florida. He was left outside in storms and the heat. I would go outside to check on him and give him water, and I loved him from the start. One day he got his leash caught around his neck and was choking. I cut his leash with scissors and saved him. He was mine from then on. Seven years later, I still love him more than anything. — Kellie Pominville

EllieWalking anywhere with Ellie, the attention she receives for being friendly and adorable is what supermodel Gigi Hadid must experience. Ellie is an 8 ½-year-old cockapoo who belongs to my friend and neighbor, Lori. She is playful, independent, and an adventurer. Recently we took Ellie from Cary to downtown Raleigh to see the trio of dinosaur topiaries, and out west to Boone and Blowing Rock for four hikes over the weekend. — Marjorie McKee

JoeJoe is a wonderful friend to all. He is very laid back and will let anyone pet and cuddle him. He takes his fashion sense very seriously and very often dresses for dinner — seen here in his best bow tie. — Melissa Kass

OpieOpie, a spirited Australian shepherd, is full of life and adventure. His curious eyes often tilt with a hint of mischief, especially when he finds a new toy. As he grew, so did his personality. By the holidays, he was the life of the party, donning festive greenery like a crown. But Opie’s true joy is the outdoors. We love living in NC, where Opie leads the way on trails. His dad, the founder of Dog Principal, became a dog trainer because of him, inspired by their bond. — Lori Hartman

BooneBoone, 1, surprisingly stole my heart in January. After losing my heart dog of 15 years, Baxter, in July of 2023, I didn’t expect to fall in love again for a long time. After fostering for a few months, we began to open our hearts to possibly adopting again. When I saw Boone’s ears, I knew immediately he was our next family member. His favorite thing to do is dive bomb into our laps to snuggle on the couch and roll over for belly rubs. We are grateful for the laughter he inspires daily in our home. — Tara Lynn

Ruby Rose and EmmaRuby Rose & Emma Grace are fun-loving Southern girls with a flair for fashion! They now run their very own dog fashion brand and are top models for all of their custom creations! — Jennifer Myers

KodiHow can you not love that face? The one behind all that dirt. Kodi, shortened from Kodiak (Bear) is everything I didn’t know I wanted in a dog: an adventure buddy and my shadow. He has a nose for treats and can smell one entering the Bark Yard. Leaving one day, he started sniffing at the air and dragged me to the Bark Bar, where he was graciously rewarded with treats. They’ve renamed him TSA, reasoning if they ever need to screen passengers for taking treats on a plane, Kodi would be their go-to dog. — Phillip Michelet

WillieAt 3 months old, Willie already had three owners and was headed to the shelter. He came from a backyard breeder in West Virginia. He has a huge overbite and loves carrying his babies in his mouth. He LOVES going to the vet and groomer, adores attention, and can be a little sassy. He is always HANGRY! — April Allen

LeoLeo is a sweet boy who tells you loud and proud when he’s hungry or can’t find you in the house. He wears a handsome coat of dark pewter, silver, and white, with just a few stripes in the most fashionable arrangement. He loves belly rubs and ear rubs. His flying high jumps are something to behold when he plays, and he sleeps at our feet every night. — Karen Agama

Izzy and FinleyIzzy and Finley are the sweetest Aussies you have ever met. Finley loves people, and Izzy loves Finley. They both love their toys. We got Finley when our son went off to college. Two years later we got Izzy when our daughter went to college. I guess you could call them our replacement kids. — Jennifer Mann

PoppyPoppy came to Cary from Hollywood Hills, California, three years ago. I decided to foster a senior cat since I was already a longtime volunteer at an animal shelter. Poppy came to me very scared and nervous. Unfortunately, we both failed at fostering, and I adopted her within a few months. We then moved to Cary after retiring. She now spends her days napping and keeping watch on the critters frolicking in the backyard. —— Lynda Daro

HenryHenry is our new 7-month-old King Charles cavalier, who attached himself to our family from the first day we met him — and quite literally! He needs body contact with a human at all times and insists on sprawling himself across you when you’re seated. At night, he sleeps on his mom’s pillow with his head on her shoulder, leaving her with only a quarter of the pillow for her own head. — Samantha Strazanac

CookieCookie is a 2-year-old energetic boy who zooms around the house chasing feather toys. He’s an orange cat theoretically, but he definitely doesn’t belong to the “chubby brainless orange” stereotype. Cookie stands for himself as the new orange! — Siyao Wang

JackJack is a 7-year-old Chihuahua who was born in Switzerland! My husband and I lived there for two years and welcomed Jack into our family during our time there. So far, he’s been to nine US states and six countries. We couldn’t imagine life without him! — Jess Braskey

RussellRussell is a 10-year-old pit/pointer mix we adopted from Second Chance Adoptions in 2015. He has three legs (tripawd). He is best known for being a big couch potato (preferring to be on your lap even in the smallest of spaces) and a counter surfer (his nose gets him in trouble). He loves soaking up rays of sunshine inside or out. He is fun, full of energy, and friendly. We love him! — Kim Armstrong

PrezleePrezlee was named in honor of Elvis, since she was adopted from a shelter in Tennessee. She’s a miniature schnauzer mix. At only 12 pounds, she’s small, but her bark makes her sound huge! She loves dental treats, but I have to give her the 50-pound dog size or it’s gone in a minute. She’s very sweet and gets along well with both people and pets. — Margo Ankeny

SnickersSnickers is a 13-year-old Australian/Lab that we found wandering in the neighborhood. She is the sweetest, smartest, and friendliest pup you will ever meet! She loves going everywhere with her humans like the beach, mountains, breweries, and restaurants with outdoor seating. She is loved by so many! We are so lucky she found us! — Phyllis Kramer

Jake From State FarmYes, my name is Jake From State Farm. I am gray with light brown khaki pants and love to play and eat. I was abandoned and abused, but I showed up at my new home in Holly Springs at 3 months old. My new parents had a vet clean me up from ticks and burns. So happy to be in my new home. — Judy Bowdle

MooseMoose is the most loving little boy! He loves learning new tricks and recently received his AKC Trick Dog certification. While he loves his mom, he’s a total grandma’s boy. Ever the mischievous pup, you better watch out when Moose is loose: He’ll steal your heart then steal the food right off your plate. But he’s so cute that you won’t even mind! — Kori Mulholland

Miss LucieMiss Lucie, a Havanese, came to live with me from a Jack Russell rescue. She was a brave little thing who had been surrendered by her family. She has been my love and my light for over 10 years now. — Linda Dale Edwards

DeltaDelta is a very special pup. We adopted her five years ago on National Puppy Day. She is one of the happiest dogs I know. We should all learn how to take joy in the simple things in life. This is one of the lessons she has taught me, among many others. Delta is one of the greatest gifts given to me. — Kelly Marie Winner

SamsonSam is a 6-year-old ragdoll. He has been with us since he was 12 weeks old, and watching him grow into the most beautiful cat has been so lovely! He is our curious big boy. He weighs just shy of 15 pounds! These photos were submissions for my photography class. Everyone at school fell in love with him. — Kayla Brasher

CocoCoco is a 13-year-old bichon frisé who loves everyone. She has worked as a therapy dog in nursing homes and libraries making people young and old forget their worries. She enjoys riding in the car on the way to work. — Cindy Heath