2025 Orlando’s Best Pet Contest Winners
It was a purr-fect competition between some of Orlando's best pets, as submitted by their owners!
This year’s contest was one of the hardest we’ve ever had to judge. We could really feel each animal’s personality shine through their photos, and we were touched by so many of their stories. Thank you to everyone who participated!
And the winners are: Katara and Calisi
KATARA is now living her best life in Winter Park, but the three-year-old feline was rescued out of a terrible hoarding situation. Small but mighty, she keeps her big boy brothers in line and loves to fetch her hot pink crinkle ball toy. “She’ll drop it at your feet during the day and tap you on the leg while looking at you with her big baby blues,” says her dad, Thomas, who adds that Katara is a girly-girl who loves her daily grooming and watching her human get ready so she can take a peek at herself in the mirror too, a fascination she has had since she was a kitten.
CALISI is an 11-year-old chocolate lab who lives in Lake Nona. A year ago, Calisi was diagnosed with cancer and given just two months to live, but along with her parents, she was determined to fight, and is currently doing great, says her mom, Paula. Her favorite things in the world are carrots and bananas, so watch out, says Paula, “she’ll happily snatch them right out of your hand or off the countertop.” Tennis balls are also prized possessions. “Calisi’s journey has shown us what resilience and unconditional love truly look like,” says Paula.
Meet the Runners-up
Bonded pair Rosie & Daryl, who live in Davenport, are not siblings (they were born two weeks apart) but are absolutely devoted to each other, snuggling constantly and frequently grooming each other.
Lily is a white labrador retriever who loves to be the center of attention, and makes her dad laugh when she steals his work tools. She also loves boating adventures and pup cups from Chick-fil-A.
Harry was abandoned in front of the now defunct Honolulu Harry’s on Edgewater Drive (hence his name); the American bobtail lives in College Park and loves to lick the salt off Cheetos.
Elsie’s mom describes her as a “toddler on espresso and shaped like a marshmallow wrapped in clouds.” The maltipoo, who lives in Orlando, loves the pancakes at First Watch.
