The CALS Pet Photo Contest is now live. Vote for your favorite through Oct. 31 by making a donation to the 2024 Partners in Giving Campaign.

Directions to donate:

• Text “givinguw” to 41444 OR use this link:  https://igfn.us/form/zYolQQ
• Enter the amount you would like to donate
  • Amount donated = number of votes
• Select CALS as the division
• In the special event description, write “Pet Photo – Name of pet you are voting for”
• Enter payment information and submit
• Cash donations can also be accepted. Contact your department coordinator or Ally McCann.

Meet the contestants:

1 – Ruby
Ruby is a corgi. Like all corgis she knows what is best for everyone, and is an expert at napping and balancing upside down (see Figure 1). She likes pets, but not too many pets, and cuddles, but not too many cuddles. She enjoys chasing a frisbee, bringing it back towards you for approximately five feet, then dropping it and allowing you to come pick it up. She also goes by puppers, loaf of bread, punk nugget, your majesty, and puptart.
Phil Huss
Biochemistry

2 – Mochi & Nori
These pretty ladies are Mochi and Nori! Mochi is a 10 month old Siberian and Nori is a 1 year old Great Dane. Even though Nori weighs about 10 times what Mochi weighs, you can bet that Mochi calls all the shots. They love to cuddle together on the couch and hangout anywhere Mom and Dad are. They also love treats and playing “tag” around the house. We love our girls!!
Claire Minor
Genetics & Genomics

3 – Goldie
This is Goldie! She is a 3 yr old lionhead rabbit. Goldie is sassy, energetic, and is unsure about finding herself inside a pumpkin house. Goldie likes going on hops, thumping, and rolled oat treats.  
Emilie Parkanzky
Entomology

4 – Ginger
Hello, my name is Ginger and I am one year and 4 months old. I am a naughty boy and always makes my mom mad, but I will then lie on her leg and she loves me again!
Teresa Jing
Biochemistry

5 – Pilot
Pilot is a lab mix rescued from Tennessee who is unfailingly polite to all humans and will even wear a hat if you ask him nicely.
Elizabeth Hrycyna
Entomology

6 – Boo Bear
This is Boo Bear, the Poochon, my 11-year-old “perpetual pup!” She’s really chill and friendly, loves to follow me everywhere and hang out with the family. She is often found lounging on a chair, on the back of the couch (like a cat), or in her favorite spot, my lap. Thanks for voting for this cutie!
Hannah Kurer
Genetics

7 – Chela & Tonic
Chela (left) and Tonic (right) are my chihuahua/Yorkie rescues who rule the roost and bring lots of joy. 
Kara Luedtke
CALS Administration

8 – Oreo
Oreo, 7 years old male, Indian tabby, weigh 17lb. He is sweet and psycho.
Nivedita
Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences

9 – Oswald 
This is Oswald (Ozzy, Oz, Waldo for short)! He’s a 6-month old kitten who loves to play and cuddle. He especially loves sticking his tongue out when he sleeps, as seen in this picture! He’s obsessed with human food and will try anything that is left out of reach for more than a minute!
McKenna Helder
Food Science

10 – Quinn
This is Quinn! She is a 13 year old Siamese who loves treats, tummy rubs, and lap time. She is quite chatty and loves a good conversation!
Brittany Magrady
Bacteriology

11 – Margot
This is Margot aka “Boots” because her back two feet are white. She’s 13 but thinks she’s a pup! This picture is her staring at me while I’m having a snack hoping that she can convince me to give her some. Like clock work, if I’m eating she’s there staring at me! She enjoys playing with her toys, going on walks, and pestering her brother Winston!
Michael Menon
Forest & Wildlife Ecology

12 – Jane
Jane is a playful kitty that loves attention, her favorite activity is making confetti out of (my) magazines or cardboard boxes.
Aude Trinquier
Bacteriology 

13 – Amara
This is Amara! She is all about the ice cubes and rolling in the grass. She loves the dog park and exploring tall grassy fields. She LOVES other doggos and making new friends. She looks like and acts like a shadow following all her favorite people around all day. Where you go, she goes!
Shyanna
Bacteriology/Microbiology Advising Hub

14 – Aughra
We adopted Aughra from the Dane County Humane Society in 2022, when she was already 17 years old. She’s completely deaf and has only a couple of teeth left, but nonetheless the vet says she’s in “pretty good shape, actually.” She’s named for her doppleganger, the witch puppet from the 1982 Jim Henson film, The Dark Crystal. Aughra will be 20 years old this December. 
Malia Jones
Community & Environmental Sociology

15 – Bear
Bear is a good-natured 13-year old retriever mix who loves long jaunts in country parks, chasing sticks in the water, and receiving love and attention from family and friends. He reminds me to stop and smell the flowers even on the busiest of days. Truly a wonderful companion.
Rebecca Johnson
CALS Academic Affairs

16 – Emma & Molly
Best friends on the farm: Emma (at right) and Molly.
John Hendrickson
Center for Intergrated Agricultural Systems

17 – Scruffy
Scruffy has a calm demeanor, with eyes that sometimes appear melancholy, giving him a reflective or pensive look. However, his wagging tail always reveals his true emotions—most of the time, he’s happy. He’s a steady companion, with a quiet joy that shines through in his own subtle way.
Bobby Liu
Bacteriology

18 – Winnie
Winnie is a small (but fiesty) orange cat whose favorite hobby is napping — she was not pleased that I disturbed her slumber.
Jori Skalitzky
External Relations

19 – Lainey
Lainey is a 7 year old miniature dachshund with a huge personality! She loves to travel with me to my barrel races, lay in the sun, get absolutely filthy from rolling around in everything, and bury herself under piles of blankets. She is the world’s best cuddler and loves to give stinky kisses. She was born in California and spent the first 3 years of her life there, but has adjusted to Wisconsin very nicely, though her short stature leads her to get snowballs stuck on her belly!
Jessica Townsend
Animal & Dairy Sciences

20 – Monty
This is Inigo Montoya (Monty)! He seems shy when you first meet him, but he is actually a very loud, very silly, and very loving boy. His favorite activities are getting into trouble and cuddling! 
Heather Emery
Bacteriology

21 – Merlyn Bear & Shakespeare
Merlyn Bear (solid gray) and Shakespeare (pointed) were best buddies right away and excelled at finding whatever cozy spots were available around the house.  Shakespeare taught Merlyn that Under the Covers was a good choice.  Merlyn took it a step beyond and spent his last several months sleeping On My Head.
Betsy Wood
Biological Systems Engineering

22 – Little Bit
Little Bit is a 13-year-old petite lady whose favorite pastimes are following her mommy around and being the best lap cat.
Lindsey Jahn
Food Research Institute

23 – Onyx
Hello, my name is Onyx! I like to think that I am dark, mysterious and moody, but my mom and dad tell me that I’m a silly goose who loves to meow loudly, play in cardboard boxes for hours, and will do anything possible to sleep in sunny spots (even if the spot is uncomfortable). Oh, and have a mustache! My mom calls me her ‘little gentleman’ sometimes because of it.
Richelle Kasten
Biochemistry & Microbiology Advising Hub

24 – Miles
Hi!! I’m Miles!!! I have no idea what personal space is and I’ll love you from the moment I meet you, especially if you give me a treat! I absolutely love to run around at the dog park and chase the balls my parents throw, and I also absolutely love to sniff everything and anything. My goal is to smell everything possible when I’m on a walk, and sometimes I point at holes in the ground to tell my parents I smell a small animal! I hope I get to meet you soon!!
Richelle Kasten
Biochemistry & Microbiology Advising Hub

25 – Archie
Archie the adventure Aussie is a wannabe good-boy with a certain charm that gets him into a whole lot of trouble! Whether he’s strutting his floofy tail through Madison’s Capitol Square, camping up north on the edge of a lake, or trying to give kisses to his horse & goat friends, Archie has an infectious happy-go-lucky attitude that makes him his humans’ all around best bud.
Danielle Schmidt
Community & Environmental Sociology

26 – Stella
This is Stella. Unfortunately, due to her partial orangeness, she has to share the single orange brain cell. At the time this photo was taken, it was unfortunately NOT her turn with the brain cell, as I’m sure is evident.
Peyton Turner
Biochemistry

27 – Winnie & Ciri
Winnie (Winnie the Pooh) and Ciri (Piglet)! These rescue beagles are best friends that enjoy exploring nature on their walks, playing with each other, and eating tasty treats. Fall is their favorite time of year.
Jay Beiser
Business Services

28 – Rocky
Rocky is a busy boy living his very best life. His life priorities include ball, being outside in the sun, rolling on mom’s white couch, ball, staring at mom for bones, blue cheese, sleeping on his heating pad, and ball. His dislikes are all other mammals (he tolerates chickens), anyone who passes by his house, sardines (which mom tries to force him to eat), and not getting a bone whenever he demands it. 
Lauren Asprooth
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems

29 – Lucy & Facundo
Lucy and Facundo, my two border collies, enjoying a summer getaway near Lake Michigan.
Dante Pizarro
Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences

30 – Macie
Macie is an adorable fluffy monster who absolutely loves everybody who comes to visit her. She spends her time sleeping, demanding cuddles, trying to get more food out of her feeder, watching birds out the window, finding new low effort ways to cause trouble, and playing with her chosen favorites of her many toys she’s scattered about. Her fishy is her favorite toy, and she’ll sometimes take it to bed with her. 
Leah McKinney
Bacteriology

31 – Sasha
This is Sasha, a very sweet and cuddly little lady. She loves napping in the sunshine, drinking from the bathtub faucet, hiding under beds, and being extremely cute.
Ally McCann
CALS Dean’s Office

32 – Hans
Hans is a polydactyl cat with three extra toes on each front paw and one extra on each back paw! He was named after the disembodied hand seen in the “Suds” episode of SpongeBob SquarePants because his front paws look like hands. After getting neutered at UW Veterinary Care, they discovered he has a bilobed gallbladder too. He is very smart and has a personality as big as his eyes!
Frankie Anderson
Center for Intergrated Agricultural Systems

33 – Hobbes
This is Hobbes with his favorite toy, a string ripped out of a hoodie. He spends most of his day moving around his favorite napping spots and occasionally gazing out the window to watch birds. He will roll on his back and meow to let me know when he NEEDS attention, whether that be petting or playing with his string. He is mellow and very friendly so he has been the perfect pet for a first time cat owner like me.
Matt Hohpan
Center for Dairy Research

34 – Maple
Maple is a beautiful calico tabby I found outside my condo building a month and a half ago. She loves to play and eats nonstop. Her favorite sleeping position is right on my neck or face.
Frankie Anderson
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems

35 – Toki
Toki, named after the rhythm guitarist for the fictional death metal band Dethklok, from the animated show Metalocalypse, is a sweet 16-year-old who shares his mother’s love for the Green bay Packers. Rescued from the Wisconsin Humane Society in 2009, he is a cuddle bug whose favorite thing to do is sit in laps.
Frankie Anderson
Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems