In 2020, we got by with a little help from our littlest friends.
Portland has always been a bit pet crazy. We're consistently listed as one of the country's most fur baby-friendly cities. A recent study found we have the most dog parks of anywhere in the country, and rank fourth in total number of veterinarians. And what other town can claim to have even one celebrity llama, let alone two?
After the year we've had, though, the notion of pets as extended family members took on new meaning—in many cases, they were the only family we actually got to see.
It's no wonder, then, that the pet sector has been one of the boom industries of the pandemic. Adoptions have skyrocketed, waitlists stretch for months, and prices for purebreds are through the roof.
Also not surprising? Our annual Pet Pageant, presented by DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital, received an absolute avalanche of submissions.
Over 1,100 Portland pet parents entered our yearly animal photo contest, and nearly 24,000 votes were cast to determine the city's Gentlest Giants, Tiniest Treasures and Floofiest Felines. Many participants told us how important their wee fuzzy ones were in getting them through 12 months of isolation—and in the case of Robin Carter and her cat, Eliza, a year at home has given her a new appreciation for the role she plays in her life.
The 3-year-old Persian had a rough start to her own life: She got stuck in her mother's birth canal, and had to be resuscitated. At only 6 pounds, she's clearly the runt of her litter. But none of that stopped Eliza from becoming this year's Crown Champion.
"She is one of the most confident cats I've ever been around," says Carter. "In her own environment, she's scared of nothing. New places, new people—she's looking at them like, 'I'm here. What can you do for me?'"
Elsewhere in this issue, we spent time with the woman some have referred to as "the Rambo of Dog Detectives," who does whatever it takes to reunite owners with their lost pups. We also checked back in with some of our favorite animals from the past, including Hank the Dachshund, our first Pet Pageant cover star, and Sugar Bob, the stoner deer of Southern Oregon. And if you're still in the market for a companion, but aren't in a position to take on a high-maintenance pal, we looked at some low-impact pets that are also in big demand—maybe a pixie frog, ball python or bearded dragon is more your speed?
Whether you're a dog person, cat person or Neocaridina shrimp person, our pets gave us something to cling to in an impossibly difficult year. In return, we're giving them a little spotlight, as a treat. It's what they deserve.
—Matthew Singer, A&C Editor
See all the winners of the 2021 Pet Pageant presented by DoveLewis here.
Checking in on Five Famous Oregon Pets, From a Super-Chill Deer to a Very Unchill Cat
Here Are Six Low-Maintenance Animals for Less-Committed Pet Owners