By Lori BODNAR, intern
There is a famous dog in our midst! Tiki, a dog that lives in La Crescenta, has reached the quarterfinals in the America’s Favorite Pet Competition. There are two categories in the pet competition: cats and dogs. Nationwide, one cat and one dog that each receives the most votes will win the America’s Pet Competition. The feline and canine winners will be featured in the “Dogster” or “Catster Magazine” and each take home a $5,000 cash prize. The sponsor of the competition will be donating a portion of its proceeds to the PAWS Foundation that actively rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife, shelters homeless animals, and promotes compassionate action for animals.
Kathrine Bryan-Keyes’ quarter-finalist dog Tiki is a Shih Tzu/terrier mix. Tiki is 10 years old.
“Tiki is an 11-pound brown and white little guy with a white muzzle, and currently has a green Mohawk!” said Bryan-Keyes. “He’s had different colored Mohawks since we first started dying his hair. Tiki is very sweet and mild-tempered around his family, but gets shy around strangers. He likes to make up for his small size with his meaty bark. He’s quite the character and has the best facial expressions I’ve ever seen on a dog!”
Tiki previously was in the Embrace Pet Insurance’s All-American Pet contest.
Bryan-Keyes is very proud of her little canine Tiki.
“We are extremely proud of not only how far he’s advanced in AFP competition, but also how far he’s come from being a rescue dog,” she said. “He was surrendered to a shelter when his former owner passed away. We fostered him from The Dog Cafe and immediately fell in love with the very shy and chubby (he was 16 pounds then) little guy. Since we’ve adopted him, he has undergone gallbladder removal surgery. We almost lost him, but this guy is a fighter. He has become so much stronger and confident compared to when we first met him.”
During this unprecedented and stressful time with the ongoing pandemic, pets often give comfort to others.
“My husband and I have both been working from home. Tiki is the best companion to have around with so many uncertainties happening around the world at this time,” Bryan-Keyes said. “He definitely keeps us smiling and laughing!”
Bryan-Keyes said she first heard about America’s Favorite Pet competition from ads on social media. Her sister suggested that Tiki be entered into the contest.
“I thought it would be fun to see how far he goes,” said Bryan-Keyes. “The AFP organization donates a portion of their proceeds to PAWS, whose mission is to help animals in need of care and shelter.”
To help Tiki win the nationwide pet contest vote for him at https://americasfavpet.com/2021/tiki-2.