Porscha

WEIRTON — After weeks of online voting, Weirton has crowned its cutest pets for this holiday season.

As part of local holiday festivities, the Weirton Festival Committee hosted its third-annual Christmas on Main Street Cutest Christmas Pet Photo Contest, with voting wrapping up Nov. 15.

“We had the highest turnout of our three years,” Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam, a member of the festival committee, explained, noting approximately 6,500 votes were received.

Of 34 entries, the top three were selected through the votes of interested residents, in Weirton and across the country.

The first-place entry, receiving 1,930 votes, was made in memory of Porscha, a cat who had been owned by Shelby Bell and Joseph Mastroianni.

Lily

According to the entry, “Porscha was a friendly cat and had to be the center of attention when people came to visit her family.” The family noted Porscha’s favorite song was “As it was” by Harry Styles, and she would run from wherever she was in the house in order to listen when it was on.

Porscha passed on Oct. 21, as a result of a house fire, and her family felt the best way to show how much she is missed was to enter a photo in her memory.

Lily, an all-white cat owned by Heather Littleton, was awarded second place in the contest, receiving 1,670 votes.

Lily was noted as being unique because of her one blue eye and one green eye, but “Lily’s unique eyes are just a small portion of what is truly unique about her.”

Lily showed up on Littleton’s porch in the fall of 2019 and “instantly stole their hearts with her sweet face and friendly demeanor.” She greets them at the door each day as they arrive home, and her hobbies are playing with her toys, especially her stuffed Dominic the Donkey, and watching Cat TV on YouTube.

Teddy Bear

Third place went to Teddy Bear, a 1-year-old Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise mix, owned by Kim and Dave Parker. Teddy Bear received 695 votes in the contest.

“He loves to follow his mom around the house and sleep under her desk when he goes to her office,” notes the entry. “Teddy Bear loves his family, which includes his mom and dad, human brother and sister and brother-in-law, two cat brothers and one cat sister.”

His favorite toys are miniature tennis balls and his purple stuffed bunny.

A portion of the funds raised this year will go to the Hancock County Humane Foundation, and Pulliam said she hopes to see the contest continue.

“It’s been exciting,” she said.

This year’s sponsors were Pet Supplies Plus; Taylor & Makricostas PLLC; Nick’s Towing, Collision Center, Auto Sales and Rebuilders; Weirton Kroger; and Outback Steakhouse.