{"id":325103,"date":"2026-05-20T20:45:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/325103\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:45:10","slug":"vote-now-for-the-best-pooch-in-the-lake-merritt-dog-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/325103\/","title":{"rendered":"Vote Now for the Best Pooch in the Lake Merritt Dog Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 20, 2026<\/p>\n

Updated 1:18 pm PT<\/p>\n

Voting is live for the extremely pure fifth annual Oakland event, in which \u2018every dog is the best dog.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Photos<\/p>\n

Some of the good dogs competing in the 2026 Lake Merritt Dog Contest. Top Row (L-R): Calliope, Larry, Einstein. Bottom row (L-R): Stella, Dont\u00e8.\u00a0(Courtesy of the Lake Merritt Dog Contest)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s May! That means it\u2019s time to vote! Yes, in the gubernatorial primaries and all of that stress-inducing malarkey. But there\u2019s another important election happening in Oakland that you may not have heard about yet. It\u2019s a race for those of us who need a treat after participating in actual politics. It\u2019s a competition featuring only the best bois, niftiest grrls and stinkiest butts who\u2019ve spread joy in the Town this year. It\u2019s the Lake Merritt Dog Contest<\/a> and voting is open right the heck now.<\/p>\n

There are 145 floofers on the ballot for 2026 \u2013 the fifth year of this contest \u2014 and voters get to pick three pups each, which is only right and natural because picking just one is entirely impossible. This (not so) short list has everything! There are dogs named after celebrities, like Sasha Fierce, Archie Bon Jovi and Stan Lee. There are dogs rescued from organizations like Muttville, Family Dog, the SPCA, Oakland Animal Services and the Hawaiian Humane Society. And there are dogs \u2014 oh so many dogs \u2014 wearing hats for some reason.<\/p>\n

\"fourA sampling of this year\u2019s behatted contestants.<\/p>\n

Longtime Oakland resident Nathan Porter started the contest back in 2022 as a post-pandemic means of raising community spirits. Porter, by day an AV and sound technician, initially put up flyers around his neighborhood for a \u201cVernon Street Dog Contest\u201d and was genuinely surprised when scores of people signed up. Less surprising (given the fact that so many of his friends immediately embraced voting) was the fact that Porter\u2019s own dog Maggie won Top Dog. This year, Porter has entered his current pup, a shepherd mix named Lisa who is \u201cLake Merritt\u2019s gentlest gentle giant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Cupcake and Richard: also \u2018Best Dogs.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contest has always been open to dogs of all kinds,\u201d Porter tells KQED. \u201cI\u2019ve known people my whole life that are like, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m more of a dog person but my cat acts just like a dog.\u2019 So, you know, I figured, let\u2019s have a very inclusive practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s contest includes Beanie, a cat who loves \u201cto play fetch & cuddle up at the foot of the bed every night. They\u2019ve got a loud bark & will let you know when they enter the room or tell you to stop coughing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Voting, which began on May 17, closes on Sunday, May 31. This year\u2019s awards ceremony will be held the same day near Lake Merritt\u2019s iconic Fairyland sign. Porter organizes and funds everything relating to the contest entirely on his own \u2014 including hiring musician JW Francis<\/a> to write a theme tune for the competition last year. Which, incidentally, sounds like pure unfiltered sunshine:<\/p>\n

Porter\u2019s primary future goal is to find a volunteer skywriter to show the competing dogs some love in the East Bay heavens.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contest does cost me money,\u201d Porter says, \u201cbut, I don\u2019t know, it\u2019s worth it. It\u2019s fun. It\u2019s making people happy, and I\u2019m happy doing it. It\u2019s a great way to get to know your neighbors and other dogs out there. It\u2019s just really nice to have that sense of familiarity with all of your neighbors, both human and canine.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can vote for your favorite dogs at the Lake Merritt Dog Contest<\/a>\u2019s website now. Details of all things relating to the contest, present and future, can be found by following the official Instagram account<\/a>.<\/p>\n