t’s been another busy week at Newsweek for pets, with highlights including a dog struggling to adjust to the demands of his new home’s screen door and an “only child” orange cat reacting in a terrifying fashion to a new kitten’s arrival.

Elsewhere, a large dog finally plucked up the courage to walk past his cat sibling, and Newsweek has the footage to prove it.

Along with the usual array of viral videos and heartwarming stories, Newsweek has put together this week’s Pet of the Week lineup, featuring some of our favorite videos and pictures from you, the readers.

Remember, if you want your furry friend to be a Pet of the Week, find out how at the end of this story.

The Winner

This week’s winner is Matilda, a 2-year-old mixed Australian shepherd, black Labrador and poodle. In a video shared with Newsweek, Matilda can be seen giving her owner, Moe McGuinty, an affectionate lick on the head, which, while unconventional, is adorable.

Maybe it’s her unique blend of breeds, but Matilda is a highly intelligent and affectionate dog. “Matilda is as smart as a whip and, as you can see, will lick you to death given the chance,” McGuinty told Newsweek. “She’s easily trained and never needs to be on a leash and responds to both verbal and hand sign clues.”

That makes her the perfect companion for McGuinty and his wife. Wendy. Matilda is happy to join them around the thousands of miles of back roads and trails available to hike and explore around where they live in Mattawa, Ontario.

“She loves to swim, though we have to order her to shore or she’ll swim forever,” McGuinty joked. “She’s honestly just the best dog my wife and I could have hoped for.”

The Finalists

Oscar the cat came into Joan Martinez’s life 11 years ago. “We had just lost our female cat and were still mourning when a neighbor in Glen Oaks, Queens, abandoned Oscar in our courtyard,” Martinez told Newsweek.

Though he attempted to live as a stray, Oscar wasn’t much of a hunter and soon found himself relying on regular meals from Martinez and her wife, Sandra. One day, Sandra opened the door to let Oscar in but with a caveat: “You must promise to stay an indoor cat, and you will always get your fill.”

“He has never left us ever since and is living his best life,” Martinez said. The cat had been food insecure when living as a stray, and it quickly became apparent that Oscar was very focused on what he could eat.

Martinez, a New York City public school teacher, and Sandra soon taught him to respond to a bell letting him know when it was mealtime. They also started to keep his food in the refrigerator after Oscar started hunting for snacks in the cupboard.

The result is that anytime they open the refrigerator for longer than a couple of seconds, Oscar finds a way inside, much to his owners’ amusement. He is splitting his time between homes in the New York boroughs of Manhattan and Queens.

“We love him to pieces, and we are the most happy as a family when we are all together,” Martinez said.

Next up is Custer, an outgoing yellow Lab who has been living with David Hulsander in northwest Montana since 2015. Hulsander and his wife had just lost their previous dog, Boze, and were keen to find another four-legged companion to keep them busy during the cold and isolated winter months. Custer isn’t named after the famous general, though.

“My wife’s family name is Custer, and there is a town in Montana by the name of Custer,” Hulsander explained. Custer is about as all action a dog as you could possibly find.

“Custer has been my companion now for over nine years and loves to fetch, hunt grouse, swim, hike, eat, wake me up, ride in my truck, run in the snow and slide and roll around in the snowbanks,” Hulsander said.

Hulsander shared hilarious footage of Custer frolicking in the snow during one of his many walks. He’s a well-trained dog, though.

“Living here in the Montana mountains, he is free to roam around the property but trained to come on three toots of the whistle and of course always gets a biscuit or two,” Hulsander said. “He loves family and my grandsons and gets very excited when they come. The saying ‘a dog is man’s best friend’ is so true in my situation.”

Last but certainly not least is Bo, an adorable pint-sized dog Diana Anderson purchased during the pandemic. Anderson considers Bo to be her “best friend” after a difficult couple of years during which her four-legged friend proved to be a crucial pillar of support.

“My husband and I purchased Bo in 2019. A year later, my husband found out he had liver cancer,” Anderson said. “He only lived six months.”

Bo was her “loving companion” during this time. “He is the sweetest dog,” she said. “He gives hugs and behaves. I do not know what I would have done without his companionship.”

Though Anderson said Bo “filled the void” for her during such a difficult time, he has his own struggles. “He is not very big on strangers since he was with my husband and myself for a year and a half and was not conditioned socially. I live in the Midwest.”

However, she wouldn’t change him for anything in the world. “Dogs are wonderful companions who provide unconditional love,” she said.