From one cat sitting with the Halloween items to an owner realizing she made a mistake by not letting her dogs sniff-test the festive decorations, this week’s pet stories got us into Season of the Witch mode.
But nothing starts October better than a roundup of pets from Newsweek readers. Check out the latest winner and finalists for our “Pet of the Week.”
Follow the instructions at the end of the article to find out how to submit your pet to be featured in this Newsweek spotlight.
Winner
This week’s winner is Ringo, the dog who secretly howls after his owner leaves him at home.
Lynne Astley told Newsweek that anytime she leaves the house, her dog howls for her. The problem? She has never seen or heard him do it. He bottles up the emotions. But the minute he’s home alone, he lets it all fly out, echoing throughout the house.
Astley discovered the secret howls after the person checking in on Ringo captured his cries. She said he never howls when she is home.
Finalists
Our first finalist for this week got us into the Halloween spirit. The 12-year-old Portuguese water dog, Chamaco, loves to pose in different outfits. His owners, Neil and Chieko, shared photos of their senior dog rocking several costumes, including a pilot and a king.
The couple thinks of Chamaco as a “family guy,” who’s always down for a snuggle. He’s a gentle soul, as they’ve noticed he never destroys his toys.
“He is a very smart, loving and obedient guy who has a keen interest in plants and boats,” Neil told Newsweek.
Next up is a senior cat, Angel. Owner Dee Maimone told Newsweek she took in Angel after her neighbor moved back to Japan and couldn’t take the cat with her. She’s since discovered that Angel is obsessed with heat.
She will spend all day in the patio enclosure, soaking up the sun. Her favorite spot is under the rug, as she scoots beneath it all on her own.
“I just love that she sits in the patio enclosure no matter how hot the temperature; she and I are a lot alike!” Maimone said.
Last but not least, we have Stevie the Poshie, a mix of a Shetland sheepdog and Pomeranian. Dianne Charles told Newsweek that he was given to her by her neighbor about three months ago.
“Stevie is so smart, he loves walking on the streets and going to the park,” she said. “I love that he is a quiet dog, not fussy at all.”
What captured her heart recently was Stevie’s unexpected paw wave to a young child, especially since he generally ignores people, Charles said.
If you think your pet could be next week’s Newsweek “Pet of the Week,” send us your funny and heartwarming videos and pictures of your pet, along with a bit about them, to life@newsweek.com, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
