Winner announced for Bundaberg’s cutest pup poll 2024

From a competitive field of more than 180 entries, an English staffy pup called Lilly has been voted the cutest pooch in the region in 2024, and her young owners could not be prouder. We reveal the Top 5, as voted by our readers.

The hunt for Bundaberg’s cutest pooch for 2024 is now over, and one charismatic and charming hound has won the most hearts.

From a very competitive field of more than 180 entries, NewsMail readers voted Lilly the English staffy Bundaberg’s cutest pup.

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Lilly, owned by student nurse Holly Holdsworth, received 19 per cent of the votes.

For Holly and her partner Jude it was love at first sight when they first saw Lilly, Bundaberg's cutest pup, on her breeder's website.

Holly said she was “stoked” that most NewsMail readers shared her affection for 13-week-old Lilly.

“I think she’s pretty cute, so the fact that other people agree is great,” Holly said.

When Holly and her partner Jude, both dog lovers since childhood, saw Lilly on a breeder’s website it was love at first sight.

“Jude said ‘‘I’ll only get a dog if you can find me an English staffy’,” Holly said.

“And then we just happened to find Lilly, and I think once he saw the photos he was sucked in and then we ended up getting her the next day.”

Typical of her breed, Holly said Lilly was very energetic, but food was the key to her heart.

“She has lots of energy and definitely loves to have a good run around the yard,” Holly said.

“But she loves food, you can pretty much get her to do anything you want when you train her with food.”

Just six votes behind, miniature bull terrier Freya, owned by photographer Cassandra Kirk, came in second with 14 per cent of the vote.

Cassandra said Freya, voted second place in Bundaberg's Cutest Pup poll 2024, has won the hearts of everyone in her family.

Cassandra and her husband came to own Freya in sad circumstances, following the death of their previous dogs from old age and illness.

While they hadn’t planned to get another pet, Cassandra said she and her husband “couldn’t help it” when they first saw Freya, and they had not regretted the decision for a moment.

“It’s just good to have someone else to love, really,” Cassandra said.

“She’s won all our hearts, we love her.”

Charlie the corgi was tied for third place with six per cent of the vote.

Charlie the corgi and Gunter the kelpie cross were tied for third place, receiving six per cent of the vote each.

Gunter the kelpie cross was tied for third place with six per cent of the vote.

Ace the Cavoodle and Rainbow the Purebred Blue Heeler shared fourth place, with Finley the Pomeranian rounding out the leaderboard in fifth place.

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Ace the cavoodle was tied for fourth place.

NewsMail thanks all of the adorable entries in this year’s cutest pup competition.

Rainbow the purebred blue heeler was tied for fourth place.

Full results: