DOG FANCY Mixed Breed Cover Contest Winner

With a face like this, what's not to love? Meet the adorable Mutt who made the cover.

By Ernie Slone | Posted: September 3, 2012, 8 a.m. EDT

For our September Mutts Rule! issue, we asked you, our readers, to choose which of four mixed-breed dogs should be featured on our cover, and the winner is Panda.

With a constantly wagging tail and happy-go-lucky expression, Panda stole our hearts from the moment we met her, so we are happy to feature her in this special annual mixed-breed issue.

Panda outpolled some stiff competitors. There was bright little Stella, who was eager to please and play. Calm, snuggly Quizno was a joy. And Bunny had the cutest little face and perfect doggie manners.

Our thanks go out to our good friends at the Irvine Animal Care Center for helping us choose which dogs to nominate, and we are delighted to let you know that all four have been adopted. In fact, one of them stole the heart of a staff member at the California care center.

“One of our staff members adopted Bunny,” says Ron Edwards, the center’s administrator. “Her new name is Morticia (her daughter named her). She comes to work with her every day and is such a great dog.”

Top: Panda and Quizno; Bottom: Stella and Bunny

This issue we also celebrated the most dog-friendly town in the USA, and our winner for 2012 is Bend, Ore., a town that boasts a wide range of dog-friendly possibilities, from hiking and mountain biking to paddleboarding. Read all about Bend and the rest of our Top 5 dog-loving cities across the U.S. More>>