Mizu the goat wins USA TODAY’s Favorite Pet Contest
USA TODAY’s Favorite Pet contest has come to a delightful conclusion, and we are thrilled to announce the winner, picked by our judge Peggy and her family: Meet Mizu, a charismatic and friendly goat from Florence, Texas.
Mizu, whose name means “water” in Japanese, is not just any goat; he is a beloved family member of Ace Lopez and family. At 2½ years old, Mizu enjoys playing with the children in the family and taking long walks with them. His job on the farm is to trim the lawn and fertilize it, but he also loves indulging in sweet treats; his favorite is strawberries.
Mizu has a special bond with Lopez. “He’s always following me everywhere. He’s always spoiled. He lets me brush his hair, so he is definitely my pet,” she said.
“If you’re happy, the goat is happy. If you are sad, the goat actually looks down and it’s like ‘pet me’. So, it’s an exchange of energies,” Lopez said. “I think it’s something curious about the goats, but it’s really interesting to be around them.”
The family of Peggy, the British dog actress who starred as Dogpool in the 2024 film “Deadpool & Wolverine,” selected our winner from more than 20,000 entries from across the nation. Florida pet owners led the pack, submitting 6,325 entries. Next were Ohio with 2,582 and Michigan with 2,347. Entries came in from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Nominations spanned an array of species. Dogs led the way with 15,645 entries, followed by cats, birds, reptiles, snakes and rabbits. The list also included various rodents, a spider, pigs, goats, cows, a raccoon, hedgehogs, a crab and more.
Chloe was the most popular name, with 105 entries, followed by Daisy, Bella, Charlie and Luna.
As the winner of USA TODAY’s Favorite Pet contest, Mizu’s family will receive $5,000 in cash, a $5,000 gift card to a favorite pet store, and $5,000 will be donated to Living Grace Canine Ranch in Georgetown, Texas, an animal charity chosen by Lopez. Additionally, Mizu is featured in USA TODAY, celebrating the special bond between pets and their owners.
