Chihuahua puppy and Sphynx cat cuddle-wrestle in adorable video

With temperatures rising and a heatwave hitting a few states, pet owners everywhere are reminded of how hot is too hot to walk your dog. But amid the heat, this week’s stories—from a puppy clutching her support animal to an owner refusing to leave her rescue cat behind while moving countries—kept us laughing, smiling and reaching for the tissues.

Our Newsweek readers kept it cool and fresh with their photos and stories of everyday moments with their pets, making us forget about the heat.

Take a look at our winner and finalists, and if you think your pet should be next, read through to find out how to submit them for a chance to be spotlighted in a future roundup.

Winner

Photo of Afti, the 4-month-old Chihuahua puppy (left) and her 1-year-old Sphynx sister, Eos (right), snuggling together.

This week’s winner is a duo that proves friendship comes in all shapes, sizes, and species.

Michelle McKnight’s 4-month-old Chihuahua rescue puppy, Afti, and her 1-year-old Sphynx sister, Eos, have been nearly inseparable since she first introduced the two in January. She told Newsweek that she never would have imagined a puppy and cat would get along so well, but the two proved to be different.

The pair loves to cuddle and chase each other around the house, with Eos having the upper hand. She’ll jump into her cat beds in high places that Afti cannot reach. Their playing sometimes turns into a WWE match, but McKnight assured they snuggle more than they wrestle.

Finalists

Photos of JoJo, an 11-year-old Yorkipoo mix, after having his teeth pulled about five years ago, which has since left his tongue out about 80 percent of the time.

Our first finalist this week is an 11-year-old Yorkie poo mix, Hollywood JoJo, who is like a son to owner Keith Levidow. He rescued JoJo when the dog was only a year old.

“About five years ago, JoJo had a tooth problem, and the vet just pulled all his teeth,” Levidow told Newsweek.

Ever since then, JoJo has been rocking an adorable look that draws everyone in. His tongue sticks out of his mouth about 80 percent of the time, Levidow said.

But it hasn’t slowed him down a bit. He’s playful, smart, and still very much a puppy at heart.

Photo of an 11-year-old Wheaten terrier, Nestor, sleeping with his paws in the air, unaware he’s in the middle of the walkway.

Next up is another senior sweetheart, Nestor. This 11-year-old Wheaten terrier has a talent for relaxation.

His owner, Beth Gollmar, shared with Newsweek a photo of Nestor sleeping directly in the way of someone who might need to go from one room to the next. Completely unaware, he snoozes with his back on the ground and his paws in the air—a pose that perfectly captures what it means to enter your golden years.

“This is his favorite way to sleep,” she said.

Photos of Linus, a 4-year-old cat who came into his owner’s life during a difficult summer.

Last up, but never least, is Linus, a 4-year-old companion who arrived in his owner’s life during a particularly difficult summer.

The owner, Paige, told Newsweek that ever since then, he’s been bringing nothing but joy to her life. He always knows when to comfort her, resting right on her or next to her, keeping her warm like a blanket.

And to return the favor, the owner celebrated his fourth birthday by gifting him a blanket, which quickly became his go-to. Their bond has shown that some pets are truly family in every sense of the word by being there through all of life’s ups and downs.

If you think your pet could be next week’s Newsweek “Pet of the Week,” send us your funny and heartwarming videos and pictures of your pet, along with a bit about them, to [email protected], and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.

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