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Joop’s Ugly Sweater Contest for Pets!

Decorated Christmas tree with red and silver ornaments, lights, a red bow on top, and wrapped presents underneath.
A gray tabby cat with green eyes wearing a red Santa hat, lying next to a wooden piece of furniture with Christmas decorations in the background.

Welcome!

Please enjoy all of our Ugly Sweater Contest for Pets Entrants, but these are the fur-friends that received the most votes from our Newsletter Subscribers!

Top Dog!

Dachshund wearing a pink sweater decorated with colorful bows, standing on carpet with a gold pom-pom in front of it and more bows on its back.

Lola!

A dog with a white face and brown patch on its back, sitting on a beige couch, wearing a festive holiday collar adorned with pom-poms and holly leaves. There is a green blanket with red and white peppermint candies pattern behind it.

Peaches!

Purr-fect Cat!

An orange tabby cat wearing a festive Christmas sweater with a snowman and Christmas lights design, sitting on a windowsill and looking outdoors.

Rocious!

A cat wearing a small Christmas tree costume decorated with ornaments, lights, and a red gift box, sitting on a sofa.

Ducky!

Each of these four is receiving a custom Pet Portrait painted by LynnPaintsPets (valued at $65 each). We were able to double the winners thanks to the generosity of our community member Heather McC❤️!

And every entrant is receiving a Sticker Sheet of their fur-baby. See an example here.

Because look at these guys - there are no losers in the bunch!

Ugly Sweater Contest for Pets!

  • A small, curly-haired dog wearing a red, white, and blue plaid shirt sitting on a fluffy gray blanket on a wooden dresser, with a green blanket in the background.

    Entry Number: 17

    Name: Bambino or Bambinski

    Holiday Magic: Bambino is a 4 yo poodle mix found as a stray at 1 y/o covered in dirt and fleas. He loves being our German Shepherds shadow and never leave his side. He likes to be picked up and carried and likes to go for car rides! 🤗

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Bambino here!

  • Two black cats wearing colorful knitted sweaters, one cream and one pink, sitting against a festive winter background with snowmen and snowflakes.

    Entry Number: 16

    Names: Hank & Pearl

    Holiday Magic: Hank & Pearl were wandering a backstreet behind a dance studio all alone! They were only a couple of weeks old so we brought them home. The rest is history!

    Background: An adorable, wild & wobbly orphan kitten duo, scooped up & rescued right off the backstreets of NorCal!🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ Click here to see an example of their adorable whiskery and wobbly adventures.

  • A woman holding a fluffy, long-haired tortoiseshell kitten wearing a pink knitted hat with a pom-pom, in an animal shelter with cages in the background.

    Entry Number: 15

    Name: Hermione, Miney

    Holiday Magic: Hermione the rescue cat arrived with a mysterious past and a very specific résumé: Professional Chaos Consultant.

    On her first day home, she politely ignored the expensive cat tree and instead moved into a shoebox labeled “Winter Hats.” She immediately evicted the hats. Winter was cancelled.

    Hermione believed gravity was optional—for her. For everyone else, it was strictly enforced. She tested this by knocking a glass of water off the table, staring directly into her human’s soul as it fell, and then acting shocked at the result.

    At night, Hermione patrolled the house for threats. Shadows were suspicious. Dust was clearly planning something. At 3:17 a.m., she bravely defended the household by sprinting down the hallway at full speed for no visible reason.

    Despite all this, Hermione was a hero. She rescued her human from sadness, boredom, and closed doors—because no door should ever be closed, ever.

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Hermione here!

  • A white cat wearing a red jacket with a faux fur hood, lying on a tiled kitchen counter, with another fluffy tabby cat in the background.

    Entry Number 14

    Name: Scott Calvin, Calvinator, Nater-Ater, Scotty, Lord Scott Calvin of Downton Tabby, Gatorade, Skater-Ater

    Holiday Magic: On Christmas Eve seven years ago, the snow came down in quiet flakes, the kind that hush a town and make even the street lights feel gentle. When the moon looked like it had been dusted with powdered sugar, a small brown tabby and white cat was discovered under a twinkling pine tree behind Maple Street Bakery. He was cold and extremely opinionated about the situation.

    His name, he decided, was Scott Calvin—because it felt right.

    A kind lady spotted him as the snow was falling. She wrapped Scott in a red scarf. He didn’t run. He leaned forward instead, as if the idea of being noticed was a gift he’d been waiting to unwrap. She took him to a warm place where bright lights hummed and gentle voices said things like, “You’re safe now, little guy.”

    Read the rest on the “Additional Pictures” Page! It’s a wonderful tale of rescue and happiness and joy!

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Scott Calvin here!

  • A tabby cat wearing a blue hat, blue graduation gown, and an orange rabies awareness collar, sitting on a countertop next to a menorah and a Chanukah themed decoration.

    Entry Number: 13

    Name: Oliver

    Holiday Magic: Oliver also celebrates Chanukah he had fun lighting the menorah and getting 8 nights of crazy cat toys.

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Oliver here!

  • A cat wearing a green sweater with holiday decorations, lying on a beige blanket with white snowflake pattern.

    Entry Number: 12

    Name: Quincy! 😻

    Holiday Magic: Quincy loves Christmas and she was a good girl this year so we know Santa paws will be making a visit to her chimney!

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Quincy here!

  • A black dog wearing a colorful, festive wreath collar sitting on a beige couch, with a Christmas-themed pillow in the background.

    Entry Number: 11

    Name: Ruby, Ruby Rue, Woo woo girl

    Holiday Magic: Normally Ruby's hobbies are being on high alert for intruders, barking like crazy at the smallest thing, sharing your snacks, and bed hogging. But on Christmas she takes the day off to be absolutely adorable in her special collar. She may take a moment to cast her large doe eyes at you for a tidbit of ham though. You will obviously submit!❤️

  • A dog with a white face and brown body sitting on a beige couch wearing a festive holiday collar with red, white, and green decorations. Behind the dog is a green pillow with red and white peppermint candy patterns.

    Entry Number: 10

    Name: Peaches

    Holiday Magic: You may not be able to tell from this picture but Peaches gets scared of her special Christmas collar each year but when presented with a tasty treat she quickly forgets about her festive couture!

  • Dog wearing a Christmas elf hat and a red holiday sweater with white snowflakes and reindeer, standing on its hind legs at a counter in a store, looking up.

    Entry Number: 9

    Name: Otto (@OttoBoyNM)

    Holiday Magic: I greet all of my mommy’s customers for the holidays!

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Otto Boy here!

  • A small dog wearing a pink sweater decorated with colorful bows, standing on a beige carpet next to gold and silver tinsel decorations.

    Entry Number: 8

    Name: Lola!

    Holiday Magic: This will be Lola's second Christmas... She's found a few decorations at her level that she enjoys including the gnome elves that are about the size of a 2 year old.
    She loves the braids on the female gnome and the beard on the male... We don't trust her to leave them alone when we step out for a bit. Next year, we'll find a place for the gnomes so they're not so tempting...

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Lola here!

  • Cat dressed as a Christmas tree with decorations and a red gift box, sitting on a sofa.

    Entry Number: 7

    Name: Ducky (Official Name: Nugget & Nuggie)

    Holiday Magic: Ducky is fascinated with the Christmas tree and loves to sleep on the tree skirt!! He’s also into playing fetch with his kitty advent toys, baby spoons and even receipts!! He’s best friend with Max, they’re inseparable!!

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Ducky here!

  • A ginger cat wearing a festive Christmas sweater with a snowman and Christmas lights design, looking outside through a window.

    Entry Number: 6

    Name: Rocious 😻

    Holiday Magic: Last year at this time, Ro's oncologist advised that he was at the end of his 18 month battle with small cell lymphoma. He fought long and hard but the chemo wasn't working and he'd been through them all. She would continue if I wanted but it would only prolong the inevitable. I couldn't do that to him and made the decision to stop treatment. She told me that we'd have Christmas but likely not Valentines. I had just lost my father and now facing yet another loss. Rocious declined rapidly and I made an appointment for an evaluation with his regular Vet. She saw a spark in his eye and said "Not yet..." That was in January, 2025. Rocious continued to gain weight and had a follow-up appointment with his oncologist in June. She was shocked! There are still no treatment options available for him but he doesn't need one. His last check-up on Dec 1st was great. He's over 9 lbs , a 3 lb gain from January and according to his Vet, his labwork is "boring". He's earned his nickname Rocious Dragon because he slayed the lymphoma Dragon!

  • A dog with a brindle coat wearing a festive Christmas sweater sitting on a snowy sidewalk in sunlight.

    Entry Number: 5

    Name: Luna

    Holiday Magic: Luna is now 11 years old and loves to cuddle. She doesn't like any toys except for tennis ball. Snuggles, treats and Tennis balls that's her Christmas wish every year ❤️.

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Luna here!

  • A beige cat wearing a blue sweater with white and pink patterns, lying on a tiled kitchen counter. Behind it, a dark tabby cat wearing a red sweater is resting with its eyes closed.

    Entry Number: 4

    Name: Mirage, Miragio, Bellagio, Muuuhhhhrage

    Holiday Magic: Mirage is a rescue from Las Vegas, NM with her brother Caesar. Get it? Las Vegas? Mirage? Caesar?
    They both have neuro issues and couldn't be cuter!
    Mirage has some spinal issues and half of her tail is dead. She's totally in love with Louie and is frequently found snuggling him.
    Photo shows Lou in the background in his new red cable knit sweater to keep him warm.

  • A fluffy tabby cat wearing a gray sweater and a colorful bow tie, sitting on a white countertop in a kitchen.

    Entry Number: 3

    Name: Louie, lou, Louie -lou, dewers, dewey-dew, dou

    Holiday Magic: Louie's story is the same as Peach because he's her brother!

  • A fluffy tabby cat wearing a blue leopard print sweater, sitting on a tiled floor, looking at the camera.

    Entry Number: 2

    Name: Peaches, peachy-peach

    Holiday Magic: Peach is an 18-year old beauty! Still doing really well! She came to me via my backyard. Her mom had kittens in my wood pile, unbeknownst to me at the time. One day when they were about 6 weeks old, I was opening my bathroom window for fresh air and one of her siblings and I found ourselves staring at each other with the same puzzles look on our faces. I started feeding them and gradually a little farther away from the wood pile getting them used to it. Then when I felt they were venturing out far enough, I set up a large dog crate in the hopes of catching them. Well I did the first time around! Set them up in a cage on my porch (it was May so it was warm enough) and three of them escaped! One was Peach. I even watched as one dove off the second story balcony. I located Peach in the gutter and managed to get them all back to safety. She was the first to let me pet her and even on her little belly! Her mom is the reason I got into rescue because of this bunch. 18 years later and I'm still in it. Enjoy my Peach as I do! I have many different sweaters for her so it was a really hard decision!!

  • A small dog with light-colored fur and droopy ears sitting on a patterned sofa. The dog is wearing a pink leopard print outfit and a pink bow on its head. The background includes a bookshelf with books.

    Entry Number: 1 😻

    Name: Eva aka Eva Las Vegas aka Eba

    Holiday Magic: Ugly Christmas sweater or cheesy matching holiday pajamas? You decide. Either way Eva is ready to join her family for the required annual photo for the Christmas card. Merry Christmas and Happy 2026!

    !Cuteness Overload Alert! View more pics of Eva here!

  • A gray tabby cat with green eyes lying on a decorated Christmas sweater, with a festive background and a wooden object nearby.

    Entry Number: None

    Name: Joop in his Moose Sweater

    Holiday Magic/Miracle: Joop played a key role in socializing his newest baby sister this fall and our holiday magic is her transformation into a loving fur-baby! Thank you Joop (and Joop’s sisters), you miracle worker you ❤️.