We all have that one friend … but sometimes they’re a pet. This year’s crop of NCJ Pet Photo Contest winners is less about pose than personality. There’s character in every wrinkle on every hound and bulldog, mischief in every whisker caught mid-twitch. Scanning the entries is always a lovely distraction and we’re grateful you all have voted instead of forcing us to choose. We defy you to look upon the baby skunk or the languid Ella with a straight face. Behold, a shaky little puppy, co-sleeping cats and dogs, the questionable choices of McLeod. Enjoy them all, congratulate the winners and heal your psyche with a scroll through all the contestants at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
— Jennifer Fumiko Cahill
Cover Star
Best Hair Day
Credit: Michael (Mickey) Hulstrom
Credit: Hannah Surbaugh
Credit: Kim Larsen
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Sweet Siblings
Credit: Ron Sharp
Credit: Jessica Berg
Credit: Markus Samano
Most Snuggly
Credit: Hannah Surbaugh
Credit: Kim Larsen
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Itty Bitties
Credit: Kim Larsen
Credit: Cassandra Rustvold
Credit: Verna Worrell
High Maintenance
Credit: Deidre Hansen
Credit: Tracy Smith
Credit: Robin Bacik
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Highest on Life
Credit: Laura Chase
Credit: Laurie Sexton
Credit: Deidre Hansen
Most Humboldt Spirit
Credit: Deidre Hansen
Credit: Claudia Myers
Credit: Tammy Noack Budesa
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Kindest Eyes
Credit: Markus Samano
Credit: Tracy Smith
Credit: Laura Chase
Big Trouble!
Credit: Deidre Hansen
Credit: Laura Chase
Credit: Claudia Myers
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Cute Overload
Credit: Laurie Sexton
Credit: Hannah Surbaugh
Pets on the Job
Credit: Claudia Myers
Credit: Katrina Mosler
Credit: Kim Larsen
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Pet Who Loves Adventure
Credit: Laura Chase
Credit: Claudia Myers
Credit: Kim Larsen
The Face Only a Mother Could Love
Credit: Johanna Rial
Credit: Tracy Smith
Credit: Claudia Myers
Nontraditional Pets
Credit: Gretchen Sudlow
See all the pets at petphotos.northcoastjournal.com.
Best Smile
Credit: Markus Samano
Credit: Hannah Surbaugh
Credit: Laura Chase
Most Human
Credit: Tracy Smith
Credit: Cassandra Rustvold
This article appears in 2026 Pet Photo Contest.