Golden Retriever Who Can Surf Wins Pet of the Week

This week, we've seen an adorable ragdoll cat that looks just like WALL-E from the Disney Pixar movie and we've laughed as we saw French bulldog Quinn teach herself to play Swingball in the garden.

Meanwhile, we've been delighted by the reader submissions of pets from around the country and given the difficult task of picking our Newsweek Pet of the Week.

Remember, if you think your pet could be in our weekly lineup, read to the end of this article to learn how you can get involved.

Winner

Our winner this week is Delilah the dark golden retriever from Monterey, California.

Almost 1 year old, the dog lives with owners Gloria and Jim Fucillo, who sadly lost golden retrievers, 14-year-old Roxanne and 9-year-old Cleopatra, in 2021.

"A few months later, we looked through the AKC [American Kennel Club] website and found a breeder," Gloria told Newsweek: "With everything we read, we knew she was the right person to contact."

Gloria and her husband made the trip to Oak Meadow Goldens in Grass Valley, California, where Teresa Marsh breeds golden retriever dogs for families.

It wasn't long before Delilah became part of the family, and she was ready to leave for her new forever home by their second visit.

"[She is] a wonderful, playful companion," said Gloria, "We go to the beach three to five times a week and she is learning to surf. She loves the water—all water—making it a chore even to water the plants without her 'help.'"

Delilah goes everywhere with her new doting owners, and will soon go back to Oak Meadow Goldens to visit her mother and breeder Teresa to celebrate her birthday.

Finalists

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As always, it was impossible to pick just one favorite pet, and our first finalists this week are gorgeous miniature schnauzers Biscuit and Rufus.

Living in central Pennsylvania, the "boys"—as they are collectively known—are well-traveled pets.

Owner Karon Ishida told Newsweek: "In 2015, we were on a cross-country RV (recreational vehicle) trip with the grandkids when we responded to an ad in the local paper. Two males remained from a litter of seven, and it was love at first sight."

The dogs spent the next three weeks in the RV traveling with their new owners. "This accounts for their great enthusiasm for traveling anywhere, and visits from the kids," said Ishida.

Nowadays, Biscuit and Rufus spend a lot of time stalking sparrows in the holly bush by the house, and Ishida says they are great watchdogs and also make excellent foot-warmers for winter nights in Pennsylvania.

"They are so loyal, with big personalities: Biscuit is very intelligent, but somewhat shy, while Rufus is devil-may-care adventurous," said their loving owner.

Next up is 4-year-old rescue cat Boo Boo, who lives with owner Barbara Grillo in Weston, Florida, just west of Fort Lauderdale.

"Boo Boo is a feral cat who came to eat one day at the house with her siblings," Grillo told Newsweek: "She was just a doll because she wanted to come indoors and be pampered with tummy and back rubs. This was four years ago."

Every morning, when Grillo gets ready to do a morning yoga routine, Boo Boo is sure to join in, lying on the carpet.

"I have multiple sclerosis," said Grillo. "She keeps me company when my husband is at work.

"Her disposition is mild and funny as she always brings a smile to our faces. Her funny antics, like throwing around her toys and running around the house when she has the zoomies just brings me laughter and joy."

Last but not least is the gorgeous Bingo the cat from Florida, who lives with Nadene Gariety.

Abandoned along with her sister at a local church, Bingo was found by her owners who had just lost their cat of 13 years and were heartbroken.

"We fell in love with each other," Gariety told Newsweek. Bingo's owners say that humans and cat saved each other and are now all very happy.