Ghostly but far from ghastly ‘good girl’ wins The Modesto Bee’s cutest dog contest
After nearly 100 submissions and thousands of votes, the winner of The Modesto Bee’s cutest dog contest has been decided. Garnering 74% of the vote, Mia has been chosen as the area’s cutest canine. And the win came despite voters not even getting a good look at her.
Mia, who recently turned 4 years old, is a chocolate tri-color English bulldog and the pet of Lisa Haas and Phillip Pavey of Turlock. Mia also spends much of her time with Lisa’s parents, Eric and Claudia Haas, and her grandmother Judy Haas in Modesto because Lisa works long hours as a registered nurse.
“I always wanted a bulldog, and I would keep seeing them pop up on my Instagram. My fiance, Phillip, gave her to me as a Christmas gift in 2020,” Lisa said.
Ever the sassy Scorpio, Mia snorts and grumbles but rarely barks. “We call her monster,” said Eric Haas, referring to her noises and unique bulldog face. That face remained a mystery on her contest entry photo, which shows Mia in a ghost costume from Halloween, with only her mouth and ears visible. Sporting the common bulldog underbite with two tiny fangs holding back a little pink tongue, Mia charmed voters with just her smile.
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The ghost costume is one of many outfits Mia wears. From sweaters to seasonal holiday accessories and even a life jacket, she’s a stylish girl.
Just keep men in hats away.
“She is a very friendly and loving dog,” Lisa Haas said, “but if she sees a strange man wearing a hat, she wants nothing to do with that.” Mia quickly becomes gregarious and interested once the hat is removed.
The hat aversion is just one of her quirks. Mia also loves cucumbers, cupcakes on her birthday, sunbathing, swimming in shallow water, and barking at the garbage truck. She also loves car rides and going on vacation.
“We went to Carmel for my birthday and found a dog-friendly hotel,” Lisa said, “and she was happy because all the places are kind of pet-friendly. So she went to a lot of the restaurants and rode in an Uber. She just likes to be involved.”
Perhaps Mia’s cutest quality is her cuddly nature. Lisa described Mia as being especially loving during the pandemic, becoming almost like a therapy dog for their family.
“She’s just the best,” Lisa said. “She’s so sweet, she likes to be comfy, and she likes to hang out. But if you want to go for a walk or take her out, she’s down to do that, too. She’s a good girl.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM.
