Warning: The photos on the following pages will bring a smile to your face. They’re adorable! Readers from Santa Ynez to Lompoc to Paso Robles submitted more than 300 images of their non-human companions as part of this year’s competition. A panel of in-house judges narrowed them down to the top three in each of five categories—including Best Dressed! Contest entry fees raised more than $1,000 for the SLO Beaver Brigade, an organization advocating for and educating about the environmental benefits of beavers. Winners get a gift card from issue sponsor Lemos Feed and Pet Supply. Flip through these images only if you’re ready to feel warm fuzzies!
—Camillia Lanham
Cats, dogs, rats, birds, donkeys, and more will make you forget the stress of election season. They’re cute, cuddly, and funny. This week’s issue brings you the winners of our annual Pet photo contest, and they’ll bring a smile to your face. Alongside those, we’ve got stories about a service member who was reunited with a dog he befriended overseas and the hundreds of peacocks who call See Canyon home.
Homeward, westbound: Nipomo native’s Army tour in Kuwait ends with adopting the stray dog he befriended
By Caleb Wiseblood
Fowl play: Generations of peacocks have made Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards their home
By Chloë Hodge
This article appears in October 22 – October 29, 2026.
