From a toddler meeting a kitten for the very first time to a cat being involved in the owners' wedding, the pet stories this week made our hearts flutter.

But, of course, the week wouldn't be complete without highlighting special animals from our Newsweek readers for the "Pet of the Week."

If you think your pet should be featured, follow the instructions at the end of this article to get involved.

Winner

After being dumped on the side of the road in upstate New York, a scruffy dog named Lylah found her forever home with couple Rachael and Alex Gagnon.

The couple knew the moment they saw her online that she was meant to be their dog. Lylah was previously named Deb, which is also the name of Rachael's mother. Plus, after Rachael's battle with cancer and the couple's recent home purchase, they never felt more ready to welcome home a fur baby.

"She has been the absolute best thing that's ever happened to us as a couple," Rachael told Newsweek via email. "She brings joy to everyone she meets and is so playful and gentle!"

As Lylah has brightened her new owners' lives, she has also found nothing but joy with them. She is living her best life, from taking trips to the park and going down slides to getting endless snuggles. Rachael said Lylah will sit on anyone's lap and lick them until the lucky recipients start laughing.

But Rachael's favorite thing about Lylah is how her ears move with her head and how she walks with a bounce in her step, which is due to her now knowing she's safe and sound in her forever home.

Finalists

Our first finalists this week are two rescue cats, Mia and Ellie. Owner Tom Martin rescued them at different times, but they've since become besties and will be found snuggling with each other.

"Ellie is a hugger, Mia is the talker," Martin said.

One thing these two cannot get enough of is concrete, although Mia was initially hesitant. The two cats will sit on a concrete slab every day, which became a recent trend. The concrete's cool, textured surface entices cats, especially indoor felines, as it provides enrichment and comfort.

Photo of a dog, Winston, with his tongue sticking out after trying to follow a squirrel with his head. Courtesy of Joyce Urich

Next up, we have Winston, a squirrel-obsessed dog whose picture left us cracking up.

Owner Joyce Urich told Newsweek she "got lucky" when snapping the photo of her dog. He cannot sit still when there is a squirrel in the yard. He'll sling his head back and forth, focusing his attention and keeping his eyes peeled on the squirrel. But, like most dogs, staring through the window is the closest he'll get.

"Winston is a little mess with a huge personality!" she said.

Last but not least is a 12-week-old dog named Sunny, who has truly leaned into the naughtiness of being a puppy.

Owner Tom Linger told Newsweek he only turned his head for a second, and that was all Sunny needed to seize his opportunity. He dived straight into Linger's ice cream, getting it stuck in his fur.

While he's a "little ball of energy," Linger also said Sunny is extremely smart.

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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