The results from the inaugural 2024 Outer Banks Coastal Life Cutest Pet Contest are in!

Our competition featured your pets from all along the famous beaches of the Outer Banks. With strong participation in this first year, it was clear that choosing a winner and finalists was no easy task for our readers.

In fact, over 100 of your pets were nominated. Between December and March, family, friends, and readers alike scrolled through pages of submissions in search of their favorite pet; the pet they thought was the perfect beach dog, a faithful companion, or a friendly face in the neighborhood.

With thousands of votes, it became clear the importance of our furry friends within the Outer Banks community. While yes, they are adorable, these pets are also members of the family. They have unique personalities and stories that we all have fallen in love with. No wonder choosing a winner proved to be such a challenge! Thank you to all that submitted your pets and those that participated in this year’s competition.

Since the competition ended in March, we’ve been busy tallying up your votes. Outer Banks, here are your 2024 Cutest Pet winners!

Photos courtesy of Kathleen Pack

1st PLACE: Coconut
One of the few Samoyeds living on the Outer Banks, Coconut is an unpredictable yet perfect beach dog. While her stark white, fluffy coat was bred for colder climates and snow, she truly is a beach girl at heart! She loves digging in the sand, chasing after ghost crabs, and long walks on the beach. At two years old, Coconut has become a recognizable face in the Kill Devil Hills community.

She frequents several local businesses, including Ashley’s Espresso Parlour and Miller’s Restaurant, as well as the local dog park. Always smiling, she travels around the Outer Banks meeting new people and visiting local businesses, welcoming the many visitors to the area.

Coconut’s friendly personality and fluffy appearance has earned her the nickname “Land Cloud ” as she floats from beach to beach and business to business, visiting her island friends and favorite stores. Her presence in her community extends outside of the Outer Banks as she recently visited Millbrook Magnet High School in Raleigh, NC as part of a SCACCA sponsored program whose goal was to educate students about dog safety and interactions. She participated in a demonstration on how to approach, handle, and interact with dogs in an effort to enhance students’ understanding of dog behavior and handling.

Coconut is also a certified emotional support dog, offering care and attention to individuals living in retirement communities. She is working towards an ADA compliant certification that would allow her to provide support to those with PTSD.

In the future, Coconut’s training will permit her to enter elementary schools and provide further emotional support to students.

When she’s not busy benefiting local communities or traveling around the Outer Banks, Coconut loves to eat ice cream and snuggle with her mom. In fact, Coconut’s love and affection is prevalent even in her own home, with her bringing “peace, comfort, and joy” into her owner’s lives after experiencing a loss in their family. “I felt as though I was meant to have her,” Ashleigh Pack says, as she reflects on finding Coconut after dreaming of having a Samoyed her entire life.

A truly loving and gentle soul, Coconut continues to spread positivity in our community. To follow Coconut on her next adventure, check out @keepingupwcoconut on Instagram. Congratulations Coconut!

Photo courtesy of June Parks

2nd PLACE: Buster
Buster is a playful, energetic and constant companion. An outgoing and friendly puppy, Buster has no fear of approaching people in hopes of a belly rub.

He typically spends his time greeting customers at his parents’ distillery in Point Harbor. When he’s not watching out for his family, Buster loves chasing seagulls and running across the sand into the crashing waves with his brother Cole, a 12.5 year old lab. Although his energy seems limitless, his cuddly nature always emerges at the end of a long day, when he snuggles up to his favorite people.

Photo courtesy of Debbie Swick

3rd PLACE: Lily & Daisy
Jack Russell sisters Lilly and Daisy “don’t know how to live without each other.” From the same litter, they were a perfect pair and have been inseparable.

The epitome of energy, these two love spending time on their family boat, doing their best to help their parents fish. Daisy is so devoted to catching fish that she has been found to dive in after them! The sisters also dig and play on the sandy OBX beaches, snuggling with each other once they’ve finally exhausted their seemingly boundless energy. The perfect pair of pups, Lilly and Daisy are, “Pure heaven sent joy!”

Author: Hadley Shoaf