Before we dive into the flurry of fur that is the NCJ Quarantine Pet Photo Contest, let’s get a few things straight. First, all of the critters entered were, of course, very good boys and girls deserving of many treats and belly rubs, especially for carrying us through our isolation from other humans, sometimes by dragging us outdoors and offering constant companionship indoors. All animals were given equal consideration, whether they were pampered purebreds or raised in a barn. Photos from Journal staff members were disqualified from competition, despite my family’s parakeet Blueberry being an obvious winner. I mean come on — she was photographed under a tiny, paper cocktail umbrella. That cruel miscarriage of justice aside, the competition was fair. There were allegations of cuteness-enhancing supplements and filters, but I think we can all agree Mr. Pickles has learned his lesson. Full disclosure, the Journal‘s pair of judges struggled to reach consensus, overwhelmed as we were with the brain-frying sweetness of sleeping puppies and impossibly chonky cats. Am I proud of how we handled the pressure of ranking tiny bunnies and baby goats? Perhaps not. There were disagreements, yelling matches, teary-eyed entreaties and what I’m told are “bullying intimidation tactics.” Sadly, there were no bribery attempts, which makes me wonder whether you pet parents out there really want this. Nevertheless, while our working relationships may be irreparably damaged, we have fought our way to a group of top contenders and winners in four adorable categories: Cats, Dogs, Farm Friends and Small Critters. Behold their majesty and squee before them, these cuddly defenders of our sanity, these champions of quarantine cuteness.
Related Stories
NCJ Pet Photo Contest 2022
This article appears in The NCJ Quarantine Pet Photo Contest.
The two felines side-by-side are quite endearing, and the foreground-framed photo of the dreaming one is also prize-worthy.
THAT CAT, SHE INVADED HIS DREAMS … She laid by his bared feet / at the foot of his bed / though in his dream they’d meet / which they did in his head. // For this sleek black feline / she’d been in there before / such she’d never decline / as that cat he’d adore. // A myth it couldn’t be / that her claws touched his toes / as the dreaming did he / was about that she knows. // The dream she boldly caught / that night she did invade / was the dream she had sought / the dream she’d long delayed. // Within she placed her claws / upon his sleep-bound feet / all performed with no flaws / then and there they did meet. // Though not feeling abused / by prickling on his toes / he still looked down confused / at each of five toes, two rows. // Naught of her did he find / in his dream created / though back to wakened mind / he saw her and stated // ‘Mimi, it’s you—you rascal!’ / yet he still adored her / while finding comical / her response a smooth ‘murr’. // From the thick mattress down / she landed without woes / as he said ‘You little clown— / you leave alone my toes.’ // Thought she, ‘Again we’ll meet / as you dream fast asleep / when the toes on your feet / from my paws you cannot keep.’