Meet the 2025 America's favourite pets: Buster from Queens and Geno from New Jersey capturing nationwide love
The 2025 "
America's Favourite Pet
" contest recently closed, and the top two winners this year, Queens, New York bulldog Buster and New Jersey domestic shorthair cat Geno, have definitely captured America's heart.
This high-end contest, run by professional fundraiser Colossal for the Progressive
Animal Welfare
Society (PAWS), saw over 400,000 pets across the nation participate, so this victory for both animals and families is all the more exceptional.
The competition is special for the special method of voting that it follows. Pet owners provide a picture and description of their pets, while voters are entitled to one free vote per day. To also raise the passion and zeal for the cause, people can donate $1 per extra vote that they cast.
This practice not only raises community participation but also makes people donate, so that every vote becomes a significant force towards animal welfare.
Buster's winning personality claims as '
America's favourite dog
'
Buster, the beloved bulldog of Queens, New York, is no ordinary pup. A clever mischief-maker with a history of spiking soccer balls with headbutts, Buster is a fan favourite. His terrific personality comes through in all he does, from the raucous, side-splitting snores to his bull-headed love of roasted chicken.
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No surprise that his terrific personality won over the hearts of thousands of residents nationwide.
By claiming the title of "America's Favourite Dog," Buster not only won himself a $10,000 award but also the prestigious honor of appearing on the cover of Modern Dog magazine. His win speaks to how much love there is for pets and how much companionship and joy animals bring to our lives.
The winning charm of Geno, '
America's favourite cat
'
At the same time, Geno, a domestic shorthair from New Jersey, was named America's Favorite Cat.
"He is inquisitive, brave, and treat-motivated," his family says, and that bold and curious personality served him well in the extremely competitive contest. As a faithful survivor and friend, Geno's win meant a great deal to his devoted fans.
Similar to Buster, Geno also won a $10,000 award and will be the cover model of Modern Cat magazine. Geno's win helps to bring to light the way in which cats, with their own set of personalities and idiosyncrasies, also hold a special position in the hearts of pet owners across the country.
How "America's favourite pet" is transforming animal welfare support
Now in its fifth year, the "America's Favorite Pet" contest has grown into so much more than an online popularity contest. It is a massive fundraiser for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a progressive animal welfare organization. The contest generated a whopping $8.3 million this year alone and a total of well over $22 million in its first five years.
Proceeds from the competition go to fund life-saving care for thousands of animals, including wildlife and adoptable pets.
Success of the competition demonstrates increased national interest in promoting animal welfare through both direct donation and grass-roots participation.
Eric Stonestreet joins the mission to give pets a second chance
This year's event was even more memorable as it was visited by Emmy-winning actor Eric Stonestreet, from the hit TV show Modern Family. Stonestreet, who is an avid animal enthusiast and cause supporter, co-hosted the event with his rescue dog, Roscoe. Thanks to Stonestreet's initiative, the competition not only honored cuteness and individuality but also fostered pet adoption and rescue campaigns.
Stonestreet's presence added to the face of the cause, reminding everyone who watched and participated of the thousands of animals that waited for their own hearts' homes. His support validated the overall theme of the competition: that all pets deserve a second chance at a good life.
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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
Meet the 2025 America's favourite pets: Buster from Queens and Geno from New Jersey capturing nationwide love
The 2025 " America's Favourite Pet " contest recently closed, and the top two winners this year, Queens, New York bulldog Buster and New Jersey domestic shorthair cat Geno, have definitely captured America's heart. This high-end contest, run by professional fundraiser Colossal for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), saw over 400,000 pets across the nation participate, so this victory for both animals and families is all the more exceptional. The competition is special for the special method of voting that it follows. Pet owners provide a picture and description of their pets, while voters are entitled to one free vote per day. To also raise the passion and zeal for the cause, people can donate $1 per extra vote that they cast. This practice not only raises community participation but also makes people donate, so that every vote becomes a significant force towards animal welfare. Buster's winning personality claims as ' America's favourite dog ' Buster, the beloved bulldog of Queens, New York, is no ordinary pup. A clever mischief-maker with a history of spiking soccer balls with headbutts, Buster is a fan favourite. His terrific personality comes through in all he does, from the raucous, side-splitting snores to his bull-headed love of roasted chicken. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo No surprise that his terrific personality won over the hearts of thousands of residents nationwide. By claiming the title of "America's Favourite Dog," Buster not only won himself a $10,000 award but also the prestigious honor of appearing on the cover of Modern Dog magazine. His win speaks to how much love there is for pets and how much companionship and joy animals bring to our lives. The winning charm of Geno, ' America's favourite cat ' At the same time, Geno, a domestic shorthair from New Jersey, was named America's Favorite Cat. "He is inquisitive, brave, and treat-motivated," his family says, and that bold and curious personality served him well in the extremely competitive contest. As a faithful survivor and friend, Geno's win meant a great deal to his devoted fans. Similar to Buster, Geno also won a $10,000 award and will be the cover model of Modern Cat magazine. Geno's win helps to bring to light the way in which cats, with their own set of personalities and idiosyncrasies, also hold a special position in the hearts of pet owners across the country. How "America's favourite pet" is transforming animal welfare support Now in its fifth year, the "America's Favorite Pet" contest has grown into so much more than an online popularity contest. It is a massive fundraiser for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a progressive animal welfare organization. The contest generated a whopping $8.3 million this year alone and a total of well over $22 million in its first five years. Proceeds from the competition go to fund life-saving care for thousands of animals, including wildlife and adoptable pets. Success of the competition demonstrates increased national interest in promoting animal welfare through both direct donation and grass-roots participation. Eric Stonestreet joins the mission to give pets a second chance This year's event was even more memorable as it was visited by Emmy-winning actor Eric Stonestreet, from the hit TV show Modern Family. Stonestreet, who is an avid animal enthusiast and cause supporter, co-hosted the event with his rescue dog, Roscoe. Thanks to Stonestreet's initiative, the competition not only honored cuteness and individuality but also fostered pet adoption and rescue campaigns. Stonestreet's presence added to the face of the cause, reminding everyone who watched and participated of the thousands of animals that waited for their own hearts' homes. His support validated the overall theme of the competition: that all pets deserve a second chance at a good life. Also Read | Black Marlin: Discover the fastest fish in the world's physical characteristics, diet, habitat and more
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
Meet America's favourite pets: Buster the bulldog and Geno the cat
Buster, a bulldog from Queens, and Geno, a cat from New Jersey, won the 2025 'America's Favorite Pet' contest. Colossal hosted this event for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. The competition saw over 400,000 pets. Buster and Geno each received $10,000 and magazine covers. The event raised $8.3 million for animal welfare. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Buster the Bulldog Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Geno the Cat In a celebration of furry companionship, Buster the bulldog from Queens, New York, and Geno, a domestic shorthair cat from New Jersey, have been named winners of the 2025 'America's Favorite Pet' contest, hosted by professional fundraiser Colossal for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), drew over 400,000 hopeful pets nationwide, making this victory a special moment for these two charming animals and their pet owner submits a photo and profile, and voters can cast one free vote every day or donate $1 per additional vote. This unique model encourages community participation and generosity, turning a simple vote into a powerful tool for animal is no ordinary bulldog. Known around his neighborhood for his playful "soccer-ball-spiking headbutts," his loud, endearing snores, and an unmatched love for roasted chicken, his personality shines through every picture and story shared by his gentle and comedic nature has endeared him to thousands of 'America's Favorite Dog ' earned Buster a $10,000 prize and the honor of gracing the cover of Modern Dog described by his family as an 'inquisitive, brave, and treat-motivated feline,' captured hearts as America's favorite cat. This domestic shorthair cat's curiosity and courage make him stand out as a true survivor and beloved the winner among thousands of cats, Geno also received a $10,000 prize and the spotlight as the cover star of Modern Cat in its fifth year, the 'America's Favorite Pet' competition is much more than a friendly online vote. It's a major fundraiser for PAWS, a leading animal welfare organization. This year, the contest raised an impressive $8.3 million, contributing to a five-year total exceeding $22 million in funds that provide life-saving support to thousands of animals, including rescued wildlife and pets waiting for a special touch this year, Emmy-winning actor Eric Stonestreet , who is known for Modern Family and as a passionate animal advocate, hosted the competition. With his rescue dog Roscoe by his side, Stonestreet helped spotlight the importance of pet adoption and rescue efforts.
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Indian Express
Jurassic Park, Black Mirror, dire wolves: A foreshadowing worth revisiting
Dire wolves are back — not the pack that prowled the halls of Winterfell but the real things, in flesh and blood. When George R R Martin chose the sigil of House Stark in the Game of Thrones, he took a cue from the Pleistocene era. The dire wolves that feature in the blockbuster fantasy series are named after a species of large canines that were endemic to the Americas during the last ice age. These prehistoric carnivores dwindled and then died out many millennia ago, but a team of scientists is now rewriting their script. This April, Colossal Biosciences — which describes itself as 'The de-extinction company' on X — announced the birth of Romulus and Remus, two dire wolf pups resurrected from the dead. The duo, and their younger sister, Khaleesi, are the first dire wolves to roam this planet in over 10,000 years. The complex genetic editing that made this feat possible has triggered howls of celebration in many quarters. But there have also been a few growls of consternation. Some experts have questioned the fidelity of the tall claims made by Colossal. Tweaking a minuscule number of genetic codes may have granted them the appearance of dire wolves, but to the critics, the trio are just grey wolves with cosmetic upgrades. Less technical are the questions that have been raised about the ethics of this enterprise. Is 'de-extinction' really a noble pursuit, or is it the 'allure of playing God' that drives experiments of this nature? Some of you may be old enough to remember this question being posed in a movie that made the Tyrannosaurus Rex a household name. Their social media posts suggest that folks at Colossal have watched Jurassic Park. Perhaps they forgot how the movie ends — or, simply chose to ignore its grim portents. The latter is not hard to imagine. There is, after all, a rich tradition of scientists ignoring the warnings of science-fiction — a phenomenon that has become a leitmotif for the Netflix show, Black Mirror. One of the reasons for the enduring popularity of Black Mirror is how the fictional technology it features feels eerily close to reality. In its stories, the future — often dark and dystopian — is not the distant epoch of a Star Trek but a present that is almost upon us. An early episode of the series ('Nosedive') was set in a world where every social interaction is followed by a rating. These ratings determine the course of a person's life and career, and one minor faux pas can set the dominoes tumbling. Soon after the episode's release, parallels were drawn with the 'social credit system' in China. The idea expands the well-worn concept of financial creditworthiness to incorporate the more ephemeral notion of 'social creditworthiness', by 'judging citizens' behaviour'. Granted, the system is fragmented and often misunderstood, and your neighbours in China cannot (yet) rate you poorly after a quarrel. But a low score can 'disqualify' people from buying plane tickets or boarding trains, a scenario that would fit right into a Black Mirror fable. 'Nosedive' is not the only instance when the series has echoed into the real world. In a 2013 episode (Be Right Back), a woman avails of a service that allows her to communicate with her dead boyfriend. This premise has now been realised by a host of 'grief-tech' companies. For the right price, these businesses offer you solace by generating AI-powered simulations of the loved ones you've lost. In the episode 'Metalhead', the autonomous hounds that roam a dystopian wasteland are just the bulkier (and more belligerent) cousins of the Unitree B2-W, a real-life robot dog that can outrun an average marathoner. And the ability to record and replay one's memories (The Entire History of You) is not that hard to imagine in a world where we are surrounded by tools that chronicle our conversations. None of this is to say we must become Luddites. Innovations in technology have made our lives immeasurably better. Over a decade ago, when I bought my first car, I was delighted to see volume buttons on the steering. I marvelled, then, at the wonders of science that allowed me to change radio channels without taking my hands off the wheel. Now my car can tell me the temperature in Timbuktu and remind me to take my multivitamins. This is the shape of humanity's progress, and it is, on the whole, a good thing. Yet, there are occasions when you wonder if we should pause and take a moment to reflect on the implications of our actions. When you discover that ChatGPT consumes 1.174 billion gallons of water each month — enough to fill 1,780 Olympic-size swimming pools — you question if your cutesy (and uncredited) Studio Ghibli-style avatar was worth it. These considerations are incumbent not just upon the users of new technology, of course, but also its creators. Whether it's the de-extinction of dire wolves or the building of robotic canids, perhaps it is worth prefacing the project with a query that was once raised by Ian Malcom. At the lunch table in Jurassic Park, while discussing the propriety of creating a dinosaur-filled amusement park, Malcom had chided the CEO, John Hammond, saying, 'Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to ask if they should.' More than 30 years have passed, but this has never been as pertinent as it is today. The writer is a Mumbai-based lawyer
