Meet the judges in 2025 World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest

The People’s World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest presented by the Pedigree brand is back!

For 2025, the competition, now accepts its eighth year, accepts submissions from July 1 to July 27. Pet parents with an adorable adopted dog should apply to People.com/Rescuedogcontest. The dog competition is open to saving dogs in all breeds, sizes and ages.

After the submissions, popular editors close 10 furry finalists from all records. From August 14, animal lovers will be able to vote for their favorite as the finalists. The 3 best dogs, as the decisions of the public, will move on to the final assessment round, where judges from people and the pedigree will choose the big prize winner.

The winner, who will be announced in October, will receive a photography, a feature in People Magazine and on People.com, a year’s delivery of dog food from the pedigree and a donation of $ 1,000 to the animal rescue organization they choose.

Before the new sweetest winner is crowned, meet the judges who will help decide 2025’s top dog.

Tribal judge Gunjan Arara, P&O director of the pet industry

Gunjan “G” Arara joined in March in June 2022 as P&O Director of the Pet Nutrition segment in Canada. Before coming to March, she served as head of talent development for Kraft Heinz North America, where she spent over 10 years in various HR roles throughout India, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and eventually Canada. Outside of his career, Gunjan has a passion for outdoors, hiking and pets, with a certain love for dogs. Gunjan’s love that dog promotes and voluntarily triggered by her grandmother’s affection to save dogs all over India. Gunjan’s compassion and unconditional love for pet rescue, who supported his grandmother with the care of these dogs over the years. She has since devoted her leisure to voluntary work with various animal rescue organizations and shelters all over the world. Currently in Canada, she is an active volunteer for the Humane Society of Durham Region, a local animal welfare devoted to protecting and providing compassionate care for unwanted and abused animals until they find their always homes. She also regularly promotes with Fetch + Relash and has been a dedicated foster parent to five dogs over the past two years. Gunjan is also a passionate member and proud ambassador for the Pedigree Foundation and supports both the US and Canadian grant programs. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and their fur children, Crae and her current Foster Kiko.

People Judge Kelli Bender, pet editor

Kelli Bender is Pets Editor at People.com and People Magazine. She started writing about animals in college and even wrote her dissertation on how cat videos form the internet. Kelli is dedicated to helping safety animals through his work and outside the office. She is a regular volunteer at New York City Animal Protection and always encourages her family and friends to adopt pets. Kelli is also the proud mother of a rescue animal: her sweet yet feisty cat, Wallace.

Visit to learn more about 2025 world’s sweetest rescue dog competition, visit People.com/Rescuedogcontest