NEW HANOVER COUNTY — After a month of voting on more than 100 entries, paws4people have announced its inaugural Dog of the Year contest.
An 11.5 year-old “super mutt,” Josie, has come out on top. Voting began Dec. 1 and closed on Dec. 31; Josie garnered 5,700, beating out 121 other dogs.
Adopted from the Charlotte Humane Society, Josie will be the official spokesdog for the “Dog of the Year” contest through 2023 and will receive prizes, including her mug featured on a limited Wrightsville Beach Brewery Pale Ale can release, drawn by artist Emma Gay.
The nationwide contest opened mid-November. Contestants submitted a photo of their dog(s), along with, “in the dog’s words,” why he or she should win.
It was $10 to submit, equaling 10 votes for the pet. Each additional vote cost $1. paws4people revealed more than $30,000 was raised from the fundraiser.
Funds support the Wilmington-based nonprofit’s outreach, training and placing, free of charge, service-, facility- and emotional-support dogs. The assistance dogs help children, veterans, military dependents, first responders, and civilians with life-altering disabilities.
Josie also won $500 cash, $100 gift certificate to Wrightsville Beach Brewery, mini photography session valued at $400 by Samantha Ann Photography, a framed commemorative artwork of beer can film, and digital renderings of the winning dog in black and white and in color, as well as recognition at a brewery event.
paws4people also will award prizes for 2nd and 3rd places.
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