WCC’s Cutest Pets Contest winners

The three winning pets, from left to right: Odi the hedgehog, Tyrion the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Hennifer the turkey

by WILLOW SYMONDS
Staff Writer

The Cutest Pet Contest announced the winners on March 10: Hennifer the turkey won third place, Odi the hedgehog won second place, and Tyrion the Welsh Corgi won first place.

Students and faculty members submitted photos of their furry friends to the Kudoboard. For many, the goal wasn’t to win, but to share photos of their pets and meet other pet owners. Also, for “bragging rights,” as Tyrion’s owner, Kendall Reid, jokingly told The Voice.

Dogs and cats made up the majority, being 60 and 28 of the 95 contestants. Many of the photos showed them napping on couches and pet beds, relaxing outside in the grass and in the snow, playing with chew toys, wading in water, and in one case, dressed up as a flower girl for the owner’s wedding.

Other animals had their place too, including a rabbit, a miniature pony, a snail, three birds (two of which were Indian ringnecks), two axolotls, which are a type of salamander, and, of course, a hedgehog and a turkey.

Both Kendall Reid, Tyrion’s owner, and Vanessa Danci, Odi’s owner, discovered the contest through WCC’s student newsletter, The Washtenaw Weekly.

“I thought it would be a fun way to interact with other pet lovers,” Danci said. “I found out Odi won after reading through the most recent Washtenaw Weekly newsletter. I didn’t expect to place second because there were so many other cute entries.”

Once the owners decided to enter their pets into the contest, they had to choose which photo showed just how cute their pet is. Both Reid and Danci have backstories behind their pictures.

“The photo I submitted was taken on Odi’s first birthday,” Danci said. “It was the first time I was able to reunite him with his sister, and both hedgehogs had a great time together.”

Tyrion the Welsh Corgi’s photo included props, such as a hockey net, a yellow helmet on the ground, and a mini scoreboard hanging up behind him.

“At (doggy) daycare, they have themed parties every other week and so that’s where the hockey-themed picture came from,” Reid said. “The picture was a no-brainer since he has a big smile on his face.”

Left: Kendall Reid carrying Tyrion, a one-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, at the dog park. Right: A close-up of Odi the hedgehog.

Reid and Danci are thankful for everyone who voted for Tyrion and Odi.

You can scroll through all the pet pics at WCC’s Cutest Pet Contest 2022. Tyrion is submission 2, Odi is submission 64, and Hennifer is submission 77.