Get ready for the biggest pet awards event of the year.
Where Pets Become Stars
Welcome to the Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards - the first-ever fan-voted national awards show celebrating America's dogs and cats. Think People’s Choice Awards - but for pets.
This is a true televised awards event - complete with celebrity hosts, red carpet moments, emotional stories, and unforgettable performances - all honoring the animals who make our lives better every day.
Pet lovers everywhere can take part by submitting their cat or dog into dozens of exciting categories, from pampered pups to remarkable rescues. You can then share your beloved pet to collect votes from family, friends and supporters. Winners will be revealed live at our star-studded and nationally broadcast Awards event, where comedian and actor Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will take the stage as host.
And every paid vote supports the life-saving work of Best Friends Animal Society - because here, every vote helps save a life.
It's more than a contest - it's a celebration. The Pet Lovers' Choice Awards: where fame meets fur, and love takes center stage.
🏆 The Ultimate Pet Showdown: Best in State & Best in Nation!
🌟 Best in State (4 Rounds)
Pets battle it out locally across four rounds of community voting. Only one extraordinary dog or cat will survive the brackets to be crowned their state's undisputed champion.
🇺🇸 Best in Nation (The Finale)
The top 3 voted entries from each state advance to a single, winner-takes-all final round. State rivalries will ignite as the entire country casts their votes to crown the ultimate Best Pet in the Nation.
Best in State
Over $250,000 in Prizes
Winners share in $250,000 in cash prizes, tickets to the awards show, an on-stage announcement, and trophies!
The top 3 Winners from Each State Receive:
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Best in Nation
Presented By
Win $10,000 in Cash
The Winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, travel to Los Angeles for the awards show, a feature in USA TODAY Pets and more!
The Winner Receives:
Enter your Cat or Dog
Best in State
Pet Owner Categories
(Non-influencer everyday pet lovers)These categories are for regular pet loving owners who are non-influencers only. If you are an influencer with more than 10K followers in any social channel please enter an Influencer category. Please check the FAQ's for more information
Pet Influencer Categories
(Social-media pets and creators)These categories are only for pet influencers with a social following on any social channel of 10K or higher. Please check the FAQ's for more information.
Vote for Your Favorite Pet
Best in State
Pet Owner Categories
Pet Influencer Categories
Hall of Fame
Welcome to the Pet Lovers' Choice Awards Hall of Fame, a permanent home for the digital pioneers who have fundamentally changed how the world views and celebrates pets. This inaugural class was hand-selected for their extraordinary contributions to global pet awareness, storytelling, and the strengthening of the human-animal bond.
Doug the Pug
Lifetime Achievement Award
The undisputed King of Pop Culture, Doug the Pug has spent years bringing smiles to millions with his relatable charm and iconic sense of humor. From red carpets to viral videos, Doug’s influence transcends the screen, making him a true pioneer in the pet influencer space. This Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes his lasting legacy as a global symbol of joy, kindness, and a deep-seated love for pizza.
That Little Puff
Global Icon Honor
A culinary master and a DIY legend, That Little Puff has captured the hearts of a worldwide audience with his inventive spirit and “can-do” attitude. Breaking international barriers with every viral recipe and life hack, Puff has become a household name across every continent. With over a million followers, Puff has been recognized globally for his unparalleled ability to connect people through creativity, curiosity, and world-class entertainment.
Tika the Iggy
Fashion Icon Honor
Tika the Iggy is widely recognized as a pioneer of couture dog fashion. Known for editorial level styling and custom designer looks, she worked with luxury fashion and beauty brands around the globe, and helped bring dog fashion into serious fashion spaces. But it was her humor and charm that made millions fall in love with her. This Fashion Icon honor recognizes how she reshaped the connection between pet culture and high fashion, and the lasting inspiration she gave to designers, brands, and audiences around the world. Her legacy will continue to be felt across fashion and pet culture alike.
Awards Timeline
Submission Period
April 30 - May 19
Best in State Voting Rounds
May 21 - Jun 11
Best in Nation Voting Round
Jun 13 - Jun 17
Awards Show
Jun 23
How It Works
Submission Process
- Entry into the Pet Lovers' Choice Awards Best in State is free.
- Pet owners select their State of residency.
- Pet owners can submit one entry for their State of residence.
- Only cats or dogs are eligible for submission.
Voting Process
- The Best in State Voting runs over 3 rounds.
- The winners from every State will then compete for the Best Pet in the Nation in a final round.
- Voters can cast one free vote per entry daily or purchase additional votes.
- The Best in State Awards has 3 rounds where pets compete in groups to advance to the next round. The final round will contain 1 group and pets from the same state will compete for the Best in State prize.
- The top five entrants (or top 10% whichever is less) from each group receive bonus votes for the next round.
- 20% of votes from each of the Best in State rounds carries over to the next round for progressing entrants.-
- All State winners who progress to the Best in Nation Round will have their votes reset and start from the same position.
About Best Friends Animal Society®
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in America's shelters and making the entire country no-kill. Founded in 1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and programs nationwide in partnership with more than 6,000 shelters and rescue organizations.
From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary - a destination that brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year. We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering data in the country and make it accessible to the public - empowering communities with critical insights into the needs of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by working together, we can Save Them All®
.