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ESCANABA -- The public-determined contest to select the Pet Idol for the next year in a fundraiser for the Delta Animal Shelter and Newspapers in Education (NIE) closes its final voting period on Monday.
This year's contest brought in a record number of pets, with 58 entries of 54 different animals. In comparison, 22 entries were received in 2025, 31 in 2018 and 11 in 2016. The first year of the contest, 2010, there were 29 entries.
Owners or sponsors submitted pet photos along with a $5 entry fee from mid-May through the end of June. This year, to incorporate an new element, Publisher Sarah Greenlund encouraged businesses to send in entries with animals sporting their merch -- for example, a dog in a branded bandana -- to help advertise their operation.
Only one business -- Miller Pipeline -- went the sponsorship route, but the contest still gathered more traction than ever before. A few people even sent in multiple entries for the same animal.
Round one voting took place during the month of July. Each vote cost 50 cents, with no maximum on the number of votes a single donation could count up to.
By August, the animals with the top ten vote totals progressed to round two.
Toby, Tucker, Oliver, Bob, Millie, Annie, Charlie, Brooklyn, Chloe and Bogie remain in the running. Whichever has the most votes by the close of day on Monday will be declared the winner and earn the title of Pet Idol and NIE mascot for the next year.
Based on the standings on Thursday, the top three candidates for Daily Press Pet Idol were:
3. OLIVER: Oliver, who at last count had 835 votes, is a four-year-old gray-and-white cat owned by Kate Trombley. He's said to be especially affectionate, sweet and "full of personality." Trombley said that he cuddles, gives nose kisses and hugs.
When Oliver "makes biscuits" -- a kneading behavior common in cats -- he puts his whole body into it and kneads with all four paws, Trombley reported. The cat has a toy fishing pole that he carries into the bathroom and uses to "fish" in the bathtub, she said.
She described Oliver as vocal, loving and funny, and remarked that he brings happiness and laughter.
"I’m so excited and grateful that so many people have fallen in love with him through Pet Idol, too!" Trombley wrote.
2. TOBY (TOBIAS): Owned by Kelly Kurpier and sponsored by her nephews, Linkin and Liam Vietzke, Toby the dog had 1,643 votes. Both NIE and the shelter are special to this contestant, Kurpier wrote, because she utilized newspapers in her classroom when she taught science at Bay College and because Toby himself was a rescue dog.
Toby was described as a "blue-collar, working-class pup." He frequently goes to work alongside his owner at Miller Pipeline, where other employees visit him before heading to job sites. Toby makes appearances out Bright and early, the pair stop at Starbucks where Toby gets the pup cup. He's also know to visit Riverside Chevy and K-9 Cosmetology.
The nine- and seven-year-old boys who are responsible for this second-place entry of Toby's -- he was entered three other times by other parties -- both have cystic fibrosis but are doing great, Kurpier reported.
"All the pets have raised a fair amount of money so far, and we would really like to raise more," Kurpier said.
1. TUCKER: A three-year-old Yorkshire Terrier owned by Perry and Tanya Lund, Tucker is the offspring of dogs from Russia and Belarus who flew to the United States when the war in Ukraine started, Tanya said. Tucker's father was a show dog.
Friends and family think that Tucker acts more like a cat than a dog, Tanya shared. His mischief has reportedly included removing money from one person's purse and giving it to another.
Tucker gets along well with other dogs and is exceptionally affectionate, Tanya wrote.
"Tucker's name was entered into this contest as a tribute to my father Richard Wilson and my Uncle Charlie Wilson. My father's military career was a Russian linguist and he loved animals so it was a perfect fit. My Uncle Charlie loved continuing education and had graduated from Michigan State University."
Votes may still be submitted for any of the top ten contestants at the Daily Press office between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday and Monday.
All proceeds will be divided between the NIE program and the Delta Animal Shelter.